Ancient Roman Economy

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

The Romans built one of the greatest empires in history but how advanced was their economy? Students in this seminar read and discuss recent scholarship addressing this question, while also examining textual and material sources, ranging from the letters of Roman senators and law codes to shipwrecks and blown glass. Particular attention is paid to relating the economy to other major institutions (e.g., law, the imperial government, the household) as well as the physical environment. A major goal of the course is for each student to develop an original research project relating to some aspect of the Roman economy.