Roman Economy

Catalog description

This course entails a study of the mechanics of the ancient economy, with special attention to the economy of ancient Italy and the Roman empire, examining economic systems across the Mediterranean basin and beyond. In particular, we will examine commerce and exchange in both pre-monetary and monetized environments. Issues including production, consumption, trade routes, markets, funerary economy, organization of industry, and manpower will be considered. Throughout the course the main goal will be to arrive at an understanding of how the ancient economy works, taking care to consider these economic systems within the social and political contexts in which they operated. Offered regularly.