The Economy Flashcards
primitive approach
marginal growth during roman period
only significant growth in economy seen during industrial revolution
small scale economy
characterised by self-sufficient households
not that different
modernist approach
high peak in economic growth , drop during middle ages, slow growth up to modern age
roman economy more similar to early modern europe integration of long distance exchange systems
environment
extremely diverse - hot summers, wet winters
huge amount of deforestation
cultivation/urbanisation focused on river valleys
difficulty in over-land travel
noticeably warmer climate during period
could be linked t increase in productivity
dependently agrarian economy
landed aristocracy
elite base their wealth in land
trading seen to be very hazardous
securing of wealth key - seen to be a safe place to keep money
become legal requirement to gain political office
reliance on chattel slavery
reliance on slaves to work land
local farmers kicked off for large slave-run estates
rise in villa farms
key to change in economy?
archaeological field evidence important
or no loss of farmers, just more work done on land
urban economy
population growth = growth of cities
population growth and urbanisation go hand in hand
power base for ruling class
crop surplus necessary for urban requirements
labour differentiation / specialisation
romanisation
did this change the economy of provinces
had been agriculturally active before romans
technological advancements
argument land is not changed, just more intensive
improvement in quality of life
obviously different across empire improved access to food was better pax romana caused degree of peace some social mobility benefits of trade but increased tansmition of disease and limits of taxation with increased productivity
trade and transport
trade not for senators - too risky
does this show advanced economy?
rome natural funnel for east and west traders
facilitation of rade for romes benefit
harbour construction (concrete) eg ostia
amount of shipwrecks huge
change in materials eg more towards africa for grain supply
Manufacturing
pottery
metalwork - expensive but important
mining of precious metals
ice cores show increase in metal usage
metal could show more material or could just be that it was needed for coinage etc
would there have been mining without romans?
taxation
direct taxes - poll tax etc, italy free, assessed by census
indirect taxes - sales/slave tax etc, often collected by private companies
irregluar taxes - crown tax, paid for accession, victories
local taxes - indirect taxes, rent of public land etc
spent only in certain areas eg italy and frontiers
beneficiaries of taxation
armies, veterans etc provincial officials provinces - buildings etc imperial court for slaves etc rome - grain, buildings etc italy - infrastructure
coinage
primitivist - paid for army, taxes
- not a real monetary economy
- transactions between people and state only
however evidence coinage went beyond frontier
some building projects paid in cash
without army, would there still have been high use of coins?
evidence of economic growth
increased urbanisation increased public building intensification of cultivation some improved public health shipwrecks extraction of metals
Sources
ice cores - metal usage
archaeology of villas, pots etc
shipwrecks
