Trade

Abstract

This chapter discusses all forms of market exchange including everything from local trade in which very little transport of goods might be involved to trade over long distances, both inside and outside the Roman empire. It talks about what is now known about patterns of trade in various commodities, about the social and institutional mechanisms by which trade was conducted, and about the role of governments. The main geographical patterns of long-distance trade were determined by the location of these markets and of the centres of production or supply. Many merchants avoided specialization, and for this reason among others it is artificial to discuss Roman trade commodity by commodity. It remains true that reasons of technology and of social structure prevented the Romans from replacing their agrarian economy, in which the mass of the population lived not much above subsistence level, with a more dynamic system.

Cite this

William V. Harris (2000). Trade. Cambridge University Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.1017/chol9780521263351.025

@article{v2000trade,
  title  = {Trade},
  author = {Harris, William V.},
  year   = {2000},
  journal = {Cambridge University Press eBooks},
  doi    = {10.1017/chol9780521263351.025}
}

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