Yena Cho, Jeju
Trading was an essential part of the Roman empire; as the Romans gradually developed a more sophisticated economy from agricultural surplus, territorial expansion, technological advancement and urban growth, trading naturally thrived to not only bring economic prosperity, but also the exchange of culture and connection to the world beyond Europe. From trading, the Romans could gain access to luxuries, and experience a life with higher living standards.
The trade routes covered the Roman Empire along with sea routes covering the Mediterranean and Black seas, and many different land routes which the Romans have built. Later, connections to other counties in different continents such as Asia and Africa developed to stimulate the trading even more.
Mainly, trade involved food (olives, fish, meat, cereals, salt, olive oil, wine and beer), animal products (leather, hides), objects made from wood, glass, or metals, textiles, pottery, and materials for manufacturing and construction such as glass, marble, wood, wool, bricks, gold, sliver, copper, and tin. There was also substantial trade in slaves. As agriculture was the main part of the Roman economy, most of the exports were food or goods produced from crops. Items such as grapes, oil and grain were some of the major exports. From these crops, items such as olive oil, wine, and cereals were also produced and exported. Other exports included pottery and papyrus. Large estates could produce an enormous surplus for trade, stimulating inter-regional trade. For example, wine producers in southern France had cellars capable of storing 100,000 litres, an olive oil factory in Libya had 17 presses capable of producing 100,000 litres a year, and gold mines in Spain were able to produce about 9000 kilograms of gold per year. The Romans also had a well developed trade network with Asia along the silk road or across the Indian Ocean. Items such as silks, gold, and jeweled embroideries made their way to Rome from China and Persia. They also imported perfumes from Arabia, spices (cloves, ginger, cinnamon) and rare woods from India.
Roman mosaic showing the transport of an elephant
A gold roman coin found in a Buddist monastery in Afghanistan, indicating the range of the Roman trade.
Roman glass ewer, produced in the 4th century AD, found in a Silla royal dynasty tomb in Korea.
Bibliography
http://factsanddetails.com/world/cat56/sub408/entry-6382.html https://historylearning.com/a-history-of-ancient-rome/the-roman-empire-and-trade/ https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/ancient-rome/ancient-rome-and-trade/#:~:text=The%20 Romans%20imported%20a%20whole,lead%2C%20woollen%20products%20and%20tin. https://clioantiquities.wordpress.com/2016/10/01/distant-connections-contact-and-object-exc hange-between-mediterranean-and-far-east-asian-civilizations-in-the-first-few-centuries-ce/ https://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/roman-empire-road-and-trade-network/ https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/silk/hd_silk.htm
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