Expert: Maria - 6/4/2008

Question
Why is it accurate to say that the wealth of the Roman Empire largely depended on an economy based on trade. what are is the importance of roads, coinage, foreign trade, and trade within the empire?

Answer
Hello,

It’s obvious that  roads, coinage, foreign trade, and home  trade were very important  within the Roman  Empire  which reached its largest extension under the reign of Trajan (98-117AD)  when it embraced England, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, all of continental Europe west of the Rhine and south of the Danube, most of Asia west of the Euphrates, Northern Africa, Greece, Turkey, Mesopotamia  (today Iraq) and the  islands of the Mediterranean sea.

The Romans built over 53,000 miles of paved roads throughout their empire,  so that the Roman road system,  that was originally built to facilitate the movement of the legions, was inevitably used for other purposes  by civilians, i.e. for trade, of course.

The road system of the Ancient Romans was in fact one of the greatest engineering accomplishments, which radiated  from their centre at the “miliarium aureum”( Golden Milestone) in the Forum in the city of Rome.

This  Golden Milestone  was a gilded bronze monument erected by the Emperor Augustus  in the central Forum of Ancient Rome.
All roads were considered to begin from this monument and all distances in the Roman Empire were measured relative to that point.  Moreover on the “miliarium aureum”  were listed all the major cities in the empire and distances to them.

So it’s clear  that the wealth of the Roman Empire largely depended on an economy based on trade which could not have expanded without an efficient  road system and coinage which both were indispensable and essential to trade within a so vast empire whose peoples were so different.

To conclude, the Roman Empire  centred at the city of Rome (founded in 753 B.C.) and  lasted until 476 AD,  was one of the most extensive Western civilization of ancient times and was known for its strongly centralized government, for its legions which were a highly organized and disciplined fighting machine, for massive public works, such as roads e.g., which helped maintain its power and efficiency, and finally for its wealth and its
cleverness at keeping united  peoples of different languages, cultures and faiths.

Best regards,
Maria