Environmental History
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EmpireandTrade.pptxEmpire and Trade
Roman Roads (viae)
Extended road network that stretched from Britain to Egypt and Spain to Babylon
These roads were made with concrete, gravel and large flat stone slabs
The laws of the Twelve Tables (dated ca. 450 BCE) specified that roads should be 8 feet wide wherever they were straight and 16 feet wide wherever they were curved
Built by the government; maintained by the province/local magistrates/landowners
Major roads had tolls
way stations (mansiones: "staying places")
At the peak of the empire, Rome had around 53,000 miles of stone paved roads
Concrete
opus caementicium: concrete
Concrete buildings usually faced with other materials (brick, stone, etc)
invented in the late 3rd century BCE
included pieces of rock, ceramic tile, pieces of brick, volcanic dust (pozzolana) and gypsum or lime
1st century CE: development of underwater concrete
High-quality concrete which involved less heat to make: 1600+ degrees F as compared with 2600+ degrees F (concrete today)
Roman Ships
the Romans were not traditionally seafaring people
Sewn and Lashed plank: instead of using nails, the planks of a boat can be "sewn" together with rope
locked mortise and tenon method used from 6th century BCE
Merchant ships transported agricultural goods
The merchant ships' cargo capacity varied from 70 up to 600 tons for the largest Roman ships
after the fall of the Roman Empire no ships of their cargo-carrying capacity were built until at least the 16th century CE
Ballast
Sewn and lashed plank
Sewn and lashed plank
Mortise and tenon
Roman Ships
Used wind power and oarsmen
Compass already in use in China from the second century BCE but appeared in Europe only in the 14th century CE
Romans' navigational skills were learned from the Phoenicians
Navigation along the coast when possible
First sailing directions: periploi in Greek and were introduced in the 4th century BCE
Roman war ship
Roman merchant ship
Sailing routes
Ostia: major port at the mouth of the Tiber River
About five merchant ships reached Ostia per navigable day
mare clausum: period in winter when commercial navigation was suspended in the Mediterranean
A trip from Ostia to Alexandria in Egypt would take about 6 to 8 days depending on the winds … the return usually took longer
Roman Ostia
Roman Ostia
Monte Testaccio
Food and Supply
the supply of food was a precarious matter
More imports from the late 3rd century BCE
From around 299 BCE, aediles managed Rome’s grain supply, coordinating the delivery of the imported grain to the retail markets and controlling its quality and price
Rome’s food needs were met with products from around the empire, but this business was hazardous
Law passed in 123 BCE that permitted all Roman citizens who were residents of Rome to buy a certain ration of grain at regular monthly distributions for a fixed and artificially subsidized price
praefectus annonae administered the distribution of grain (the annona)
Roman Empire was more urban than most agrarian societies
each person consumed on average around 660 lbs of wheat, for a total Roman consumption of approximately 660 million lbs a year
required between two and three thousand voyages across the Mediterranean to feed Rome
Food trade in Roman Britain
meat is best transported either in a processed form or ‘on the hoof’ as live animal
Geographic variety
Transporting large animals via sea: logistical challenge
military sites have produced a range of both local and imported plants
Presence of some imported foods may = luxury status
Food imports to Britain from Spain, France, Italy and Greece
movement of food items can also inform upon wider economic systems
Vindolanda, Britain
Vindolanda, reconstruction
Milecastle 42 along Hadrian’s Wall
