Experiencing The Roman Empire - Trade

EXPERIENCING THE ROMAN EMPIRE HIST 1301 | History Trade Maritime routes made it easier to transport commodities around the empire. Even though the Romans established a robust road system, transport by water was far less costly. Thus, trade depended on having access to a harbour. There were several excellent seaports in Italy, the port at Ostia in the city of Rome being one of the most famous. Products that travelled around the Mediterranean were produced in Italy. Small-scale manufacturing predominated, with stores and workshops frequently situated close to residences. Italy controlled the western trade routes, and higher-value items did make their way to far-off places. Italy's metal, marble, and ceramic industries were well-known. Particularly well-liked were bronze products, which included kitchenware and red pottery, a kind of clay used for tables. Pottery from Red Samia found its way to India and other countries in addition to the Mediterranean region. Iron products made in Italy were shipped to Germany and the Danube area, while bronze products, mostly from Capua, were traded in the empire's northern regions until workshops were established there as well. These sectors also depended on imports, such as tin from Britain for the production of bronze and copper from Spanish mines. Other Roman industries used imports from other markets to offset their output. While luxury goods like linen originated in Egypt, Italy created textiles like wool and cotton. There were more trade routes besides the well-known Silk Roads. The Indian Ocean network, which was influenced by the monsoon, connected Asia with the Mediterranean, supplying the Romans with furs from the Baltic region and silk from China and India. The eastern empire was well-known for its opulent products, which included glass from Egypt and Syria, papyrus, and purple dye. For a while, glass was made in central Italy and exported to the north. However, in the second century CE, most of the glass was manufactured in Gaul (modern-day France) and Germany. Italy supplied bricks, marble, and tiles, among other building components. A significant component of the Roman economy and trading networks were agricultural products. Egypt, which produced grains, served as the breadbasket for the empire, allowing Italian farmers to concentrate on producing other, more expensive agricultural goods like wine and olive oil. Greece and Gaul were among the marketplaces around the Mediterranean where wine was exported. Amphorae were typically used to convey other items together with wine and olive oil. These big storage vases were perfect for keeping during shipping since they included two handles and a pointed end. When delivered by sea, they could have been bundled together or arranged on a rack. The annona, or formal distribution of grain by the government to the people, held great significance for the Roman people. Although it had started in the second century BCE, Augustus' rule gave it fresh significance. The praefectus annonae, a prefect who managed grain distribution, controlled grain shipping ports, and dealt with market fraud, was chosen by the emperor. Through the signing of contracts with numerous suppliers, the prefect and his team also managed to ensure the grain supply from Egypt and other places. Controlling foreign trade was another major preoccupation of the Roman authorities. The government forced the navicularii, an exclusive class of shipowners, to form collegia, or companies, so they could be more readily monitored. These shipowners benefited by signing contracts to deliver grain, such as being excused from further public duty. Contracts to provide the annona were required, and by the third and fourth century CE, control over the navicularii had become increasingly intense. The emperor thought that by being kind, the annona would win the people around to his cause and keep them nourished. Grain distribution was therefore closely related to the emperor's character. For example, in an effort to project a favourable public image, Hadrian, the emperor who governed from 138 to 161 CE, did as many other emperors did.