Transcript The Economy – trade and commerce - History

The Economy – trade
and commerce
Hannah McManus
Trade
Commercial buildings
Agricultural and
Manufactured
goods
Trade
Pompeii was known as the trade
centre of southern Campania for
600 years. Trade involving
Pompeii was associated with
numerous areas of northern
Italy. Trade through the harbour
at Pompeii involved an
importation and exportation of
goods. There are no sources
providing evidence that
Herculaneum was a major
trading centre.
Trade - Imports
The majority of evidence of Pompeian
imports and exports are deciphered
through pottery. The analysis of these
sources show that lamps from
northern Italy, pottery from Gaul,
wine from Spain, Crete, and Sicily,
and oil from southern Spain were
imported. Jars were also discovered
that trace to Gaul Greece and various
areas of Italy. Goods also came from
Egypt, parts of Syria and Palestine.
Trade - Exports
The most renowned exports of
Pompeii were Garum (fishsauce), wine and olive-oil.
These exports were praised
in letters from Pliny the
Elder. As workshop
production was on a small
scale very few goods were
produced for exports. Most
recent investigations have
discovered that the exports
from Pompeii were limited.
Trade – Geographical
Positioning
An artists
impression of
Pompeii’s Harbour
The geographical positioning of
Pompeii made it ideal for
trade. The harbour was
accessible through the
Mediterranean Sea and the
Sarno river provided access
to other towns of Campania.
The harbour was constantly
busy with ships, merchants
and sailors.
Trade – Areas that traded with
Pompeii
The products exported from
Pompeii have been
excavated throughout the
Roman empire. This
includes Spain, Gaul and
North Africa. These
products have also been
discovered inside Pompeii
itself suggesting that
import/export was not
extensive.
Commerce – buildings, finance
Commerce in Pompeii was conducted
in public buildings that opened onto
the streets and the larger
franchises were located in the
forum or business centre. Large
houses often rented out rooms to
be used as shops, taverns,
workshops or other commercial
buildings. As Herculaneum is not
known to have a forum or business
centre, it is likely that the shops
were connected to houses in this
manner throughout the residential
areas of the town or were insulae.
Finance
Two collections of waxed wooden tablets
reveal and record business transactions.
In the house of Lucius Caecilius Jucundus
(a banker) , there were 150 receipts for
rents and loans recorded onto the tablets.
The Sulpicii (a firm of freedman working
as financiers) lent large amounts of money
to local businessmen and recorded these
transactions on wooden tablets.
Commercial buildings
The commerce which was conducted in the
public buildings sold goods that were likely
to be made on the premises in workshops,
or bought from foreign merchants or local
traders.
The macellum was the main food market of
Pompeii and was located in the northeastern corner of the forum. The
perimeter of the macellum was
surrounded in shops and stalls which
centred a covered fish market.
Industries and regulations
A sex industry was prominent in Pompeii and
Herculaneum where some prostitutes worked
from local brothels. The largest brothel
excavated in Pompeii (the lupinarium) was a
multi-room establishment. Some prostitutes
worked from houses and single-rooms in
taverns.
The Mensa Ponderaria was built into the wall of
the temple of Apollo and were a set of
standard weights and measures. Inscriptions
show that the original weights and measures
used were Oscan, but later updated to Roman
standards.
Herculaneum
There is no evidence of a commercial
centre or forum in the town of
Herculaneum, but excavation has
provided evidence of few
thermopolia, a tavern and a bakery.
As evident in both towns of
Herculaneum and Pompeii, the
House of Neptune and Amphritrite is
an example of residential and
commercial activity.
Agricultural and manufactured
goods
Pompeii was initially a market
town. The sale of manufactured
goods and agricultural produce
was evident. Some specialty
stores sold imported goods.
There is little excavated evidence
of manufacturing or trade at
Herculaneum although a number
of shops which sold food and
clothing have been uncovered.
Agriculture
Fresh produce from local farms
were sold in stalls and stores
throughout the town of Pompeii.
The fresh produce included Garum,
olive-oil, wine, and various fresh
foods such as vegetables and
fruit.
These products were sold locally
and internationally through
trade.
Manufactured goods
Raw and prepared foods were sold in Pompeii
and Herculaneum through street stands.
Food shops were very common and the
majority of these sold hot food and drinks.
These shops were known as thermopolia.
Taverns (cauponau) were also common. 130
thermopolia and 20 cauponau have been
excavated at Pompeii. Garum, olive-oil and
wine were very popular and sold in most
shops throughout the town.
Herculaneum
As the town of Herculaneum has not
been fully uncovered there is little
knowledge on the towns agriculture
and manufacturing aspects.
Few shops have been excavated and
identified as shops that sold food,
drinks and clothing.
Advantages provided by the
land
The soil that surrounded Pompeii and
Herculaneum was extremely fertile
providing an advantage for the ability to
grow fresh produce and establish farming
industries including vine-yards. The
establishment of these areas enhanced
the towns ability to manufacture and grow
sufficient goods.