🏛️Greek and Roman Cities Unit 7 – Greek and Roman Urban Economies

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Polis: Greek city-state, the fundamental political and economic unit in ancient Greece
• Agora: Central public space in Greek cities serving as a marketplace and gathering area
• Forum: Main public square in Roman cities, center of political, economic, and social life
• Collegium: Professional associations or guilds in ancient Rome that regulated trades and crafts
  • Membership was voluntary but provided social and economic benefits
  • Examples include collegia of bakers, blacksmiths, and merchants
• Publicani: Private contractors who collected taxes and managed public works projects in ancient Rome
• Liturgy: Compulsory public service required of wealthy citizens in Greek city-states to finance projects and events
• Portoria: Customs duties levied on goods entering or leaving Roman provinces
• Aes signatum: Early Roman currency in the form of cast bronze bars (5th-3rd centuries BCE)

Historical Context and Timeline

• Greek city-states emerged as independent political and economic entities during the Archaic period (8th-6th centuries BCE)
• The Classical period (5th-4th centuries BCE) saw the height of Greek urban development and economic prosperity
  • Athens became a major economic power through its port city of Piraeus and the Delian League
  • Coined money became widespread, facilitating trade and commerce
• The Hellenistic period (323-31 BCE) witnessed the spread of Greek urban culture and economic practices across the Mediterranean
• Roman cities developed from small settlements in central Italy during the Roman Kingdom (753-509 BCE) and early Republic (509-27 BCE)
• The Roman Empire (27 BCE-476 CE) saw extensive urbanization and economic integration across the Mediterranean world
  • The Pax Romana (27 BCE-180 CE) provided stability for trade and economic growth
  • The 3rd century CE marked the beginning of economic decline and urban contraction in the western Roman Empire

Urban Economic Structures

• Greek and Roman cities relied on a mix of agriculture, trade, and manufacturing for their economic base
• The agricultural hinterland provided food and raw materials for urban populations
  • Grain, olive oil, and wine were major agricultural products
  • Landowners often resided in cities and managed their estates through overseers
• Urban craftsmen and artisans produced goods for local consumption and trade
  • Pottery, textiles, metalwork, and glassware were common urban industries
• Merchants and traders facilitated the exchange of goods within cities and between regions
• Wealthy elites invested in land, real estate, and commercial ventures
  • They often held political power and influenced economic policies
• The state played a role in regulating economic activities and managing public infrastructure
  • Agoranomoi in Greek cities and aediles in Roman cities oversaw markets and enforced regulations

Trade and Commerce

• Greek cities engaged in extensive maritime trade across the Mediterranean and Black Sea
  • The Piraeus was the main port of Athens and a hub of international commerce
  • Corinth and Rhodes were also major trade centers
• Roman cities were connected by a vast network of roads and shipping routes
  • The Via Appia and Via Egnatia were key land routes for trade
  • The port of Ostia served as the main entry point for goods bound for Rome
• Long-distance trade brought luxury goods and exotic commodities to urban markets
  • Silk from China, spices from India, and ivory from Africa were highly prized
• Local and regional trade supplied cities with essential goods and facilitated economic specialization
• Trade agreements and treaties regulated commercial relations between cities and states
• Emporia, or specialized trading settlements, emerged to facilitate long-distance trade (Naucratis in Egypt, Pithecusae in Italy)

Currency and Banking Systems

• Coinage emerged in Greek cities of Asia Minor in the 7th century BCE and spread throughout the Mediterranean
  • Athens' silver drachma became a widely accepted currency
  • The Athenian owl coin featured Athena on the obverse and an owl on the reverse
• Roman currency evolved from bronze bars (aes signatum) to cast bronze coins (aes grave) to silver and gold coins
  • The silver denarius became the standard currency of the Roman Republic and early Empire
• Money changers (trapezitai in Greek, argentarii in Latin) facilitated currency exchange and provided basic banking services
• Temples and sanctuaries often served as repositories for wealth and offered loans
• Private banks emerged in the Hellenistic period and became more widespread in Roman times
  • The Sulpicii of Puteoli were a notable Roman banking family
• Credit and loans were essential for financing trade and business ventures
  • Maritime loans (nautika daneismata) were common in Greek cities and carried high interest rates due to the risks involved

Industries and Production

• Pottery was a major industry in Greek and Roman cities, producing tableware, storage vessels, and decorative items
  • Athens was famous for its black-figure and red-figure pottery
  • Terra sigillata was a type of high-quality Roman red gloss pottery
• Textile production, including wool, linen, and silk, employed many urban workers
  • Miletus was known for its fine wool textiles
  • Silk weaving became an important industry in the later Roman Empire
• Metalworking, including bronze, iron, and precious metals, supplied tools, weapons, and luxury goods
  • Corinth was a center of bronze production
  • The Roman mining industry supplied metals for coinage and manufacturing
• Glassmaking, developed in the Hellenistic period, became a thriving industry in Roman cities
  • Alexandria was a major center of glass production
• The construction industry employed skilled architects, engineers, and craftsmen to build public and private structures
  • The Parthenon in Athens and the Colosseum in Rome exemplify monumental urban construction projects

Social Classes and Economic Roles

• Greek and Roman societies were stratified by wealth, citizenship status, and occupation
• The elite class (eupatridae in Greek, patricians in Roman) owned land, held political power, and engaged in commerce
  • Liturgies and public benefactions were expected of wealthy citizens
• The citizen class (politai in Greek, plebeians in Roman) consisted of farmers, artisans, and merchants
  • They had political rights and could participate in the economy, but with varying degrees of wealth and influence
• Non-citizens, including foreigners (metics in Greek) and freedmen, played important roles in urban economies
  • Metics in Athens were often involved in trade and manufacturing
  • Freedmen in Rome could amass wealth and influence through business activities
• Slaves were a significant part of the urban labor force, working in households, workshops, and industries
  • Skilled slaves could be highly valued and some were able to purchase their freedom
• Women's economic roles were limited, but they could engage in certain occupations (textile production, midwifery) and manage household finances

Urban Planning and Economic Impacts

• Greek and Roman cities were planned with economic activities in mind
• The agora in Greek cities and the forum in Roman cities served as central marketplaces and gathering spaces
  • Commercial buildings, such as stoas and tabernae, lined these public squares
• Harbors and port facilities were essential for cities engaged in maritime trade
  • The Piraeus in Athens and Ostia in Rome were carefully planned port cities
• Warehouses and storage facilities were located near harbors and along trade routes to accommodate the flow of goods
• Workshops and industrial areas were often clustered together, sometimes outside the city center
  • The Ceramicus in Athens was a potters' quarter
  • Pompeii had a concentration of fulleries (wool processing workshops) and bakeries
• Infrastructure, such as roads, aqueducts, and sewers, facilitated economic activities and urban growth
  • The Via Appia connected Rome to southern Italy and facilitated trade
  • The aqueducts of Rome supplied water for industrial and domestic use

Case Studies: Notable Greek and Roman Cities

• Athens: A major economic and cultural center, known for its port (Piraeus), silver mines, and pottery industry
  • The Athenian agora was a hub of commercial activity
  • The Long Walls connected Athens to its port, ensuring access to maritime trade
• Corinth: A prosperous city strategically located on the Isthmus of Corinth, known for its bronze industry and maritime trade
  • The Diolkos, a paved slipway, allowed ships to be hauled across the isthmus
• Ephesus: A major Hellenistic and Roman city in Asia Minor, known for its temple of Artemis and its thriving trade
  • The Library of Celsus exemplifies the city's wealth and cultural prominence
• Alexandria: Founded by Alexander the Great, it became a major center of Hellenistic culture and trade
  • The Pharos lighthouse guided ships into the city's bustling harbor
  • The Library of Alexandria was a renowned center of learning
• Rome: The capital of the Roman Empire and a major economic hub
  • The Forum Romanum was the city's political and commercial center
  • The Portus complex, built by Claudius and expanded by Trajan, facilitated Rome's maritime trade
• Pompeii: A prosperous Roman city preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE
  • Its well-preserved ruins provide insights into Roman urban life and economic activities
  • The city had a thriving wine industry and exported its products across the Mediterranean

Legacy and Influence on Modern Economics

• Greek and Roman economic thought laid the foundations for modern economic concepts
  • Aristotle's ideas on value, exchange, and money influenced later economic thinkers
  • Roman law developed concepts of property rights, contracts, and corporations
• The use of coinage and the development of banking practices in the ancient world paved the way for modern financial systems
• The organization of trade networks and the establishment of trade routes in the Mediterranean world set patterns for later global trade
• The concept of public finance, including taxation and government spending on infrastructure, has its roots in Greek and Roman practices
• The role of the state in regulating economic activities and managing public resources originated in ancient urban economies
• The social stratification and economic inequalities present in Greek and Roman cities have parallels in modern urban economies
• The importance of urban planning and infrastructure for economic growth and development is a legacy of Greek and Roman urban design
• The interdependence of cities and their hinterlands, as well as the specialization of production, are enduring features of urban economies
• The impact of long-distance trade and the integration of regional economies in the ancient world foreshadowed modern globalization