1. Ancient Rome

2. Rome was a busy metropolis whose inhabitants enjoyed the advantages and disadvantages of life in a densely populated urban capital.  The wealthiest families possessed the greatest power. Senators served for life, and the members of these groups and their families were called the PATRICIAN class.  The other class of Romans, the PLEBEIANS (commoners) included small farmers, artisans, barbers, booksellers, butchers, cobblers, fishermen, food vendors, furniture sellers, perfume makers, tavern owners, money lenders, shopkeepers, etc.

3.  Although the PATRICIANS controlled the government, they found themselves unable to exist without the plebeians.  The PLEBEIANS produced the FOOD and supplied the LABOR that kept the Roman economy going.  They also supplied the soldiers for the Roman MILITARY – especially important since Rome was in continual military conflict during the age of the Republic.

4.  Ancient Rome had an AGRICULTURAL, SLAVE- BASED ECONOMY whose main purpose was to feed the vast number of citizens and legionaries who populated the Mediterranean region.

5.  The Italian economy depended on slave labor. Slaves served in many capacities. One slave trained in medicine was worth the price of 50 agricultural slaves.

6.  Improved farming methods learned from the Greeks and Carthaginians in North Africa led to LARGE-SCALE PRODUCTION of olive oil, wine, sheep, and cattle. This trend was especially profitable because an abundance of cheap SLAVES. These large slave plantations, called LATIFUNDIA.

7.  The staple crops of Roman farmers in Italy were WHEAT, BARLEY, OLIVES, and GRAPES. OLIVE OIL and WINE were among the most important products in the ancient civilized world and led Italy's exports. Farmers also grew onions, celery, thyme, cabbage, basil, beets, radishes, and parsley.  Farmers bred animals like sheep, goats, chickens, and pigs.  Romans imported other goods like cinnamon, pepper, salt, corn, silk, dye, cotton, papyrus, tin, ivory, gold, silver, timber, and marble.

8.  Farmers could give crops to the government instead of paying monetary tax. This system allowed politicians to gain popularity with the masses through FREE GRAIN DISTRIBUTION.

9.  One of the most pressing problems was the DISAPPEARANCE OF THE SMALL LANDOWNER. Burdened by frequent military service, his farm buildings being destroyed by war, and being unable to compete with the cheap grain imported from new Roman colonies, the SMALL FARMER usually had a second job. Horace’s father was a farmer as well as an auctioneer’s agent.

10. Villa Rustica – mid-size farm and family home

11. Latifundia – large-scale, agricultural production farm