{"id":4981,"date":"2023-04-09T13:03:33","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T12:03:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=4981"},"modified":"2023-04-09T13:03:33","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T12:03:33","slug":"what-did-stuff-cost-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-did-stuff-cost-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"What did stuff cost in ancient rome?"},"content":{"rendered":"

A standard dinner for a poor family in ancient Rome would have consisted of a plate of beans and a plate of boiled greens. A better-off family might have had a dish of roasted meat as well. This would have been accompanied by a small loaf of bread. A wealthier family might have had a wider variety of fruits and vegetables, meat, and breads.<\/p>\n

There is no one answer to this question as prices varied greatly depending on the item in question and the time period being considered. For example, a simple loaf of bread might have cost only a few cents in ancient Rome, while a luxurious villa could have cost millions. In general, however, it is thought that prices were much higher in ancient Rome than they are today.<\/p>\n

How did Romans pay for things? <\/h2>\n

The Roman economy was based on agriculture, which means that people made and spent money by growing food and farming. Roman agriculture relied on large farms that were run by slaves. Romans also made money from mines, and rich Romans could buy luxuries from all over the world.<\/p>\n

The highest limit on one pound of purple-dyed silk was set at 150,000 denarii. This was likely due to the rarity and expense of the dye at the time. The price of a lion was set at the same price, likely due to the animal’s rarity and expense.<\/p>\n

How much did silk cost in ancient Rome <\/h3>\n
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The price of silk was extremely high in ancient Rome. The best Chinese bark, which is a particular kind of silk, cost as much as 300 denarii. This was a Roman soldier’s salary for an entire year!<\/p>\n

In the Roman Empire, horses were quite expensive, averaging at 125 denarii. This was equivalent to a secretary’s seven monthly payments or a private soldier’s six monthly payments. Despite the high price, horses were still in demand due to their usefulness in transportation and warfare.<\/p>\n

How did Romans get so wealthy? <\/h2>\n

Rome was able to gain its empire in large part by extending some form of citizenship to many of the people it conquered. Military expansion drove economic development, bringing enslaved people and loot back to Rome, which in turn transformed the city of Rome and Roman culture. Citizenship allowed for the integration of conquered peoples and the spread of Roman culture, while the military expansion increased the wealth and resources of Rome. The combination of these factors led to the rise of the Roman Empire.<\/p>\n

The size of homes in Ancient Rome grew significantly larger than in earlier periods. This was due, in part, to the increased access to wealth and resources. Many homes were adorned with columns, paintings, statues, and other costly works of art. Some homes are said to have cost as much as two million denarii. While this was a sign of status and wealth, it also led to increased competition and rivalry among the elites.<\/p>\n

How much did Roman bread cost? <\/h2>\n
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Bread was the staple of the Roman diet for more than 2,000 years, and you could expect to pay 2 asses for a one-pound loaf. A half-liter of top-shelf ancient wine cost up to 30 asses, while a new tunic cost about 15 sestertii.<\/p>\n

At the time of Augustus, the price for a male slave in Rome was 500 denarii. A female could go for as much as 6,000 denarii. One recorded price in Pompeii at 79 AD indicates that a slave sold for 2,500 sestertii, or 625 denarii.<\/p>\n

Why did Rome ban silk <\/h3>\n

The Roman Senate sought to ban silk in an attempt to reduce the trade deficit with China. Rome imported a great deal of silk from the Silk Road, and this was creating a significant imbalance in trade between the two empires. The Senate hoped that by banning silk, they would be able to reduce the amount of silk being imported into Rome and bring the trade deficit back into balance. However, the attempt to ban silk ultimately failed, as Romans continued to demand silk and silk products, and the Senate was unable to effectively enforce the ban.<\/p>\n

The sestertius was a small coin used in Ancient Rome. It was worth one-fourth of a denarius, or 16 asses. The name originally meant “two and a half”, or “two and a half asses”. The sestertius was introduced c. 211 BCE as a large bronze coin. It was about the size of a denarius, but heavier. The sestertius was struck for the first time during the Second Punic War, when Markus Claudius Marcellus captured Syracuse in 212 BCE. The coin showed the bust of Mars, the god of war, on the obverse, and an ear of wheat on the reverse, symbolizing the prosperity of Syracuse. The coin was continued to be minted until the time of the Empire.