The civilization of Ancient Rome was influenced by various factors, one of which was the difficulty of trading with other areas and countries.
Though the Roman Empire was a vast and powerful force, it lacked many of the elements of modern day trading that enabled it to strengthen its economy as well as its military strength.
In Ancient Rome trade was heavily reliant on physical transportation of goods such as ships, pack animals, and carts. This meant that transportation of goods was slow and costly.
Due to a lack of modern navigation and navigation tools, long distance trade was virtually impossible. Ancient mariners often had to take dangerous routes which could take weeks or even months to get to their destination. This prevented traders from taking advantage of easily accessible markets that could be reached in a day or two.
Location also played a big role in how difficult it was to trade in ancient Rome. Many countries were separated by water and mountain ranges. This meant that goods were unable to be traded between areas as easily as through land routes. This made it difficult for Roman goods to reach distant markets.
Furthermore, a lack of money meant that goods could not be exchanged with the same speed and wealth that is present in modern markets. This crippled the Roman economy in comparison to those of the surrounding nations.
Within Rome itself, the trade of goods was heavily taxed. This made the cost of goods high, which meant that customers had to buy fewer goods or something of lower quality aspects than they could have obtained in other countries.
An additional problem was that there was not a single currency to facilitate the lot of goods traded in Rome. This caused confusion and mistrust among traders. It also meant that goods were struck with extra margin, which made trading goods more expensive than it should have been.
Infrastructure limitations
Roads, ports and post roads were maintained and extended to support trade, but due to a lack of technology, a large part of the infrastructure in Rome was limited. As a result, goods would often take longer to reach their destination. In addition, goods became more expensive due to the greater amount of time taken to move them from one place to another.
This lack of infrastructure in turn meant that the government did not have control over the markets, which further made it difficult to track and regulate trade. The lack of efficient and accurate trading policies further limited the scope of trading with other countries.
Furthermore, the lack of protection for traders in Rome made it hard to build long-term relationships with traders. This meant that trades could be easily swindled by dishonest sellers. This caused traders to rely solely on hoarding their goods or risking them in the open market with no guarantee of a fair price.
Elimination of Local Markets
Another factor contributing to the difficulty of trading in Ancient Rome was the closure of local markets due to Roman expansion. Local markets were often taken over by large trade corporations, which eliminated their ability to compete. This made it harder for small-scale traders to sell goods, which hindered the economy even further.
The government also reduced the amount of goods that could be brought from outside of the Roman borders. This added more barriers to trade as goods were not allowed to be imported. This led to goods becoming scarce and thus increasing the prices for Roman goods.
Lack Of Technology
Technology was not as advanced as it is in modern times. As a result, communication between traders and customers was limited. This caused a lack of communication prowess which could have easily led to disputes or the mishandling of goods.
In addition, each market had its own trading terms and conditions, which meant that traders had to have a basic understanding of the local market before venturing out. This caused traders to refrain from attempting to break new markets as they did not have sufficient information to do so efficiently. The lack of infrastructures, such as banks and a standard currency, made it even more difficult for traders to strengthen their business.
Inadequate Legal System
There was no organized legal system in Ancient Rome regarding trading and the regulation of traders. In addition, Roman law, also called civil law, provided little protection for a trader against practices such as bribery and extortion. This made traders more susceptible to dishonest practices and robbed them of their rights.
Furthermore, contracts were hard to enforce due to a lack of a standardized contract system. This lead to disagreements and the mismanagement of goods. This made it harder for traders to rely on an organized law to protect them in times of crisis.
Poor Transportation Regulations
Transportation regulations in Ancient Rome were nonexistent. This resulted in goods being transported without proper inspections and guidance. This opened traders up to potential danger, as goods could easily be stolen or lost without any assistance.
Roads were also not safe, which made it difficult to transport goods to markets and back. Bandits and thieves often demanded large fees for transporting goods, leading to tradershaving to pay more in order to cover their costs. This, in turn, affected the prices of goods, making them more expensive for customers.
Furthermore, the lack of transportation regulations meant that traders were unable to access more markets as transportation was limited. This reduced the scope of trading, limiting the potential profits that traders could make and further disadvantaging the economy of the Roman Empire.
