Early Economy

Question 1

How can we describe the late Roman economy?

Answer 1

As a monolithic economic system.

Question 2

Why was the late Roman economy ‘sophisticated’ (for its time)?

Answer 2

Due to a specialisation of labour leading to luxury goods such as pottery becoming readily available empire wide.

Question 3

Why was there a specialisation of labour in the late Roman economy?

Answer 3

High levels of specialisation and commercialisation existed due to the services required by the standing army and state-sponsored grain subsidies, however they were not the only players.

Question 4

What is one reason for the huge product circulation within the late Roman Empire?

Answer 4

Due to the state buying products in bulk, moving them across the empire on state subsidised transport (due to its great expense) to support citizens and soldiers.

Question 5

Characterise the polarisation of wealth in the late Roman Empire:

Answer 5

The huge engagement with the population meant that some upper echelons greatly benefitted from. Rich landowner profits, poor land toiling for subsistence.

Question 6

How was the taxation system catered for elites in the late Roman Empire?

Answer 6

There was heavy taxation to support the army, and super rich elites were completely exempt no matter their geographical location.

Question 7

What percentage of the Roman population owned 50% of the empire’s wealth?

Answer 7

1.5%.

Question 8

Briefly outline late Roman urbanisation:

Answer 8

Complex economy allowed urban life to evolve- elites invest in city infrastructure and economies which sustains specialisation of labour.

Question 9

What was the change in architecture between the late Roman Empire and early medieval economy?

Answer 9

1. Lack of wealth distribution due to cut ties.
2. Super rich couldn’t keep all land holdings due to fragmentation of empire.
3. Change in countryside life from showing-off in lifestyle to objects (e.g. jewels).

Question 10

How can we describe early medieval wealth?

Answer 10

There was less of a solid definition of what wealth was, partly due to the historiography, partly due to wealth being founded upon objects rather than livelihoods.

Question 11

What was a money-raising tactic in the early medieval era?

Answer 11

Raiding was a legitimate wat of collecting resources and often aided the military too.

Question 12

What was the state input to the late Roman economy?

Answer 12

State and private input both have effective economic sophistication, often working together. This influence was of little concern to the common consumer.

Question 13

What does state and private input into the Roman economy depict about the late Roman economy?

Answer 13

The strong relationship between the centre and the periphery which was unheard of in the medieval era.

Question 14

Characterise the early medieval urban life:

Answer 14

Less of an urban/rural divide. Use of Roman buildings but not for same reasons (topographical continuity)

Question 15

What was the position of elites in the early medieval economy?

Answer 15

Lords are much poorer than Late Roman elites.

Question 16

What is a key example of early medieval urban environments?

Answer 16

Dorestad, the Netherlands.

Question 17

What was the population of Dorestad in 675 AD?

Answer 17

8000, for 200 hectares.

Question 18

What were the functions of early medieval urban areas?

Answer 18

To serve economic needs, not social hierarchies. No cultural element, share of responsibilities and market life.

Question 19

What was one of the functions for more eastern early medieval urban areas?

Answer 19

‘Towns’, although not recognised as such, were important in levying tolls.

Question 20

In what period was there no effort to build towns?

Answer 20

6th-9th Century.

Question 21

Who argued that there was a ‘Peasant’s Golden Age’ in the early medieval period?

Answer 21

Chris Wickham.

Question 22

Why can it be argued that there was a ‘Peasant’s Golden Age’?

Answer 22

Lords were poorer than Roman elites as they didn’t take surplus from the peasantry. The less complex taxation systems alleviated some economic stress.

Question 23

When did lords start exploiting their peasants?

Answer 23

9th-11th centuries. Emergence of manorial systems becomes apparent. Prior to this- just a tithe taken.

Question 24

What three factors depict peasant life in the early medieval period?

Answer 24

1. Low production, low population= no economic growth.
2. Loss of luxury belongings due to lack of trading routes.
3. Deficiencies and illnesses follow on from empire, no particular indication of improved well-being.

Question 25

Why was there a move towards the exploitation of peasants?

Answer 25

Restrictions on raiding and pillaging, emergence of manorial systems.

Question 26

By 1000, what was the primary focus of lords?

Answer 26

Revenue became more significant a concern than peasants wellbeing.

Question 27

How can we characterise the early medieval economy?

Answer 27

As a cereal mono-culture. Quick harvests with high yield, yet risky as only crop is cereal. Detrimental to nutrition.

Question 28

What was the change in living arrangements from the late Roman Empire to the early medieval era?

Answer 28

Peasants began living in. villages, there was an appearance of high status buildings and concentration of resources. A hierarchy based upon land developed.

Question 29

Briefly outline the role of gift-giving in the early medieval period:

Answer 29

A legitimate way of currying favour (PSER), inequality is based on what you can give not own.

Question 30

Why was gift-giving eradicated?

Answer 30

Due to its political potential, it was made inappropriate in specific contexts e.g. bribery.

Question 31

What is an example of the importance of gift-giving in the medieval era?

Answer 31

Auden’s story of the polar bear.

Question 32

What does archeological data tell us about the transition from the late roman to early medieval economy?

Answer 32

Archeological data shows that the change from a late Roman to early medieval economy was no easy, painless transition.

Question 33

When was the decline in Western living standards?

Answer 33

5th-7th centuries.

Question 34

What does B. Ward-Perkins call the 5th century?

Answer 34

B. Ward-Perkins characterises the 5th century as ‘the end of a civilisation’.

Question 35

What were the three parts of the Roman economic market?

Answer 35

The luxury trade, the middle market and the lower market.

Question 36

What was significant about the middle and lower markets of the Roman economic market?

Answer 36

The market for high-quality functional products e.g. pottery

Question 37

Why is pottery such an important lens for late Roman economics?

Answer 37

We can know everything about their manufacturing, there was considerable standardisation and geographical and social diffusion.

Question 38

How can we show the geographical diffusion of late Roman pottery?

Answer 38

Fragments of pottery in Iona have been traced back to manufacturing locations in Tunisia.

Question 39

How many litres of oil were being imported into imperial Rome?

Answer 39

6,000,000,000

Question 40

What is a key archeological site for looking to the extent of pottery circulating Rome?

Answer 40

Monte Testaccio- “Pottery Mountain” made of 53 million 2-3rd Century amphorae.

Question 41

How can historians research metallurgy in late Roman economics?

Answer 41

By looking at ice caps which show atmospheric pollution.

Question 42

What has been shown by studying Greenlandic icecaps?

Answer 42

The Roman economy had high levels of lead and copper pollution that would not exist again until the 16th century.

Question 43

What was evident in archeological studies of Metapontion?

Answer 43

‘above all roof tiles’- even for buildings for animals.

Question 44

What should be stressed about late Roman goods transportation?

Answer 44

The transportation of goods rarely involved machinery and was highly laborious.

Question 45

When was the volume of 2nd Century trade in the Mediterranean finally matched again?

Answer 45

In the 19th Century.

Question 46

What is the difference between the modern economy and the contemporary Roman economy?

Answer 46

Same economic structure, but no modern consumer-frenzy.

Question 47

What was the 1960s consensus for late Roman economics?

Answer 47

That the state was the prime economic mover

Question 48

How can we argue against the state being the prime economic mover in the Late Roman economy?

Answer 48

Oxford-wares’ commercial spread in England does not correspond with administrative needs.

Question 49

What trading network did the Roman state actively support?

Answer 49

The network with Africa, via up keeping the port Ostia due to Rome’s need for African grain.

Question 50

What disappeared from the Roman economic markets in the post-Roman west?

Answer 50

The middle and lower markets, with British pottery becoming unaesthetic and impractical.

Question 51

What can be said about 7th century pottery?

Answer 51

By 7th Century pottery had become monolithic.

Question 52

In what three ways did the goods market decline following the fall of the western empire?

Answer 52

In quality, quantity and diversity, the goods market declined.

Question 53

What is an issue with considering the economic outlook of the post-Roman west?

Answer 53

Archeological evidence for the post-Roman west is meagre.

Question 54

When was there eastern sophistication and continuity?

Answer 54

5-6th centuries, followed by an abrupt end.

Question 55

What can be said about the continuity of villa culture (heating/pools/tableware etc)?

Answer 55

Only kings and bishops continued to live in such luxury.

Question 56

How can we consider the change from tiles to thatch in Britain post-Roman occupation?

Answer 56

It was not so much a step-backwards as sideways. Whilst technologically inferior thatch better suited the climate and was a cultural change.

Question 57

In what period was there no British use of a pottery wheel?

Answer 57

5th-8th centuries.

Question 58

What type of economy did Britain retreat to after the fall of the western empire?

Answer 58

Something akin to the Bronze Age. Even in the Iron Age (early AD) there had been trade with Gaul.

Question 59

Why was the economic decline in the Mediterranean not as severe of that in Britain?

Answer 59

It was not as severe because the Mediterranean economy started out at a higher point of effectiveness.

Question 60

What can be said was the state of the eastern Empire by 700 AD?

Answer 60

Constantinople was nothing of what it had been at its height in 500 AD. This is partially due to the collapse of peace.

Question 61

When was the Persian invasion of the eastern empire?

Answer 61

540s AD.

Question 62

What was the only area of the empire that did not experience crippling economic decline?

Answer 62

The Levant.

Question 63

How can we see a slow crawl back to economic sophistication by the 8th century?

Answer 63

In the presence of Islamic mosaics with writing such as ‘in the name of Allah’

Question 64

How many attacks were there on the eastern empire 620-720?

Answer 64

4 major attacks that crippled the military and economy.

Question 65

When did the rise of Vandal Africa begin and what did it mean for Rome?

Answer 65

429+, it meant that Rome lost its spending power, access to grain etc.

Question 66

What does B. Ward-Perkins compare the collapse of the Roman economic empire to?

Answer 66

The collapse of the Soviet command economy in 1989.

Question 67

What was the significant period of peace in the Mediterranean?

Answer 67

67-439 AD.

Question 68

When was the sun completely obscured, damaging harvests?

Answer 68

536-7AD.

Question 69

What is a source for the localised effect of economic disintegration as a direct result of specialisation?

Answer 69

The Life of Saint Severinus (400sAD).