The Economy – trade The Economy – trade and commerceand commerce

Hannah McManusHannah McManus

TradeTrade Commercial buildings Commercial buildings Agricultural and Agricultural and

Manufactured Manufactured goodsgoods

Trade Trade Pompeii was known as the trade Pompeii was known as the trade

centre of southern Campania centre of southern Campania for 600 years. Trade involving for 600 years. Trade involving Pompeii was associated with Pompeii was associated with numerous areas of northern numerous areas of northern Italy. Trade through the Italy. Trade through the harbour at Pompeii involved an harbour at Pompeii involved an importation and exportation of importation and exportation of goods. There are no sources goods. There are no sources providing evidence that providing evidence that Herculaneum was a major Herculaneum was a major trading centre.trading centre.

Trade - ImportsTrade - Imports

The majority of evidence of The majority of evidence of Pompeian imports and exports Pompeian imports and exports are deciphered through pottery. are deciphered through pottery. The analysis of these sources The analysis of these sources show that lamps from northern show that lamps from northern Italy, pottery from Gaul, wine Italy, pottery from Gaul, wine from Spain, Crete, and Sicily, and from Spain, Crete, and Sicily, and oil from southern Spain were oil from southern Spain were imported. Jars were also imported. Jars were also discovered that trace to Gaul discovered that trace to Gaul Greece and various areas of Italy. Greece and various areas of Italy. Goods also came from Egypt, Goods also came from Egypt, parts of Syria and Palestine.parts of Syria and Palestine.

Trade - ExportsTrade - ExportsThe most renowned exports The most renowned exports

of Pompeii were Garum of Pompeii were Garum (fish-sauce), wine and (fish-sauce), wine and olive-oil. These exports olive-oil. These exports were praised in letters were praised in letters from Pliny the Elder. As from Pliny the Elder. As workshop production was workshop production was on a small scale very few on a small scale very few goods were produced for goods were produced for exports. Most recent exports. Most recent investigations have investigations have discovered that the exports discovered that the exports from Pompeii were limited.from Pompeii were limited.

Trade – Geographical Trade – Geographical PositioningPositioning

The geographical positioning The geographical positioning of Pompeii made it ideal of Pompeii made it ideal for trade. The harbour was for trade. The harbour was accessible through the accessible through the Mediterranean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea and the Sarno river provided Sarno river provided access to other towns of access to other towns of Campania. The harbour Campania. The harbour was constantly busy with was constantly busy with ships, merchants and ships, merchants and sailors. sailors.

An artists impression of Pompeii’s Harbour

Trade – Areas that traded with Trade – Areas that traded with PompeiiPompeii

The products exported The products exported from Pompeii have been from Pompeii have been excavated throughout excavated throughout the Roman empire. This the Roman empire. This includes Spain, Gaul and includes Spain, Gaul and North Africa. These North Africa. These products have also been products have also been discovered inside discovered inside Pompeii itself suggesting Pompeii itself suggesting that import/export was that import/export was not extensive.not extensive.

Commerce – buildings, financeCommerce – buildings, financeCommerce in Pompeii was Commerce in Pompeii was

conducted in public buildings that conducted in public buildings that opened onto the streets and the opened onto the streets and the larger franchises were located in larger franchises were located in the forum or business centre. the forum or business centre. Large houses often rented out Large houses often rented out rooms to be used as shops, rooms to be used as shops, taverns, workshops or other taverns, workshops or other commercial buildings. As commercial buildings. As Herculaneum is not known to have Herculaneum is not known to have a forum or business centre, it is a forum or business centre, it is likely that the shops were likely that the shops were connected to houses in this connected to houses in this manner throughout the residential manner throughout the residential areas of the town or were insulae. areas of the town or were insulae.

FinanceFinance

Two collections of waxed wooden tablets Two collections of waxed wooden tablets reveal and record business transactions.reveal and record business transactions.

In the house of Lucius Caecilius Jucundus In the house of Lucius Caecilius Jucundus (a banker) , there were 150 receipts for (a banker) , there were 150 receipts for rents and loans recorded onto the rents and loans recorded onto the tablets. The Sulpicii (a firm of freedman tablets. The Sulpicii (a firm of freedman working as financiers) lent large working as financiers) lent large amounts of money to local businessmen amounts of money to local businessmen and recorded these transactions on and recorded these transactions on wooden tablets. wooden tablets.

Commercial buildingsCommercial buildingsThe commerce which was conducted in the The commerce which was conducted in the

public buildings sold goods that were likely public buildings sold goods that were likely to be made on the premises in workshops, or to be made on the premises in workshops, or bought from foreign merchants or local bought from foreign merchants or local traders. traders.

The macellum was the main food market of The macellum was the main food market of Pompeii and was located in the north-eastern Pompeii and was located in the north-eastern corner of the forum. The perimeter of the corner of the forum. The perimeter of the macellum was surrounded in shops and stalls macellum was surrounded in shops and stalls which centred a covered fish market. which centred a covered fish market.

Industries and regulationsIndustries and regulationsA sex industry was prominent in Pompeii A sex industry was prominent in Pompeii

and Herculaneum where some and Herculaneum where some prostitutes worked from local brothels. prostitutes worked from local brothels. The largest brothel excavated in Pompeii The largest brothel excavated in Pompeii (the lupinarium) was a multi-room (the lupinarium) was a multi-room establishment. Some prostitutes worked establishment. Some prostitutes worked from houses and single-rooms in from houses and single-rooms in taverns. taverns.

The Mensa Ponderaria was built into the The Mensa Ponderaria was built into the wall of the temple of Apollo and were a wall of the temple of Apollo and were a set of standard weights and measures. set of standard weights and measures. Inscriptions show that the original Inscriptions show that the original weights and measures used were Oscan, weights and measures used were Oscan, but later updated to Roman standards. but later updated to Roman standards.

Herculaneum Herculaneum There is no evidence of a There is no evidence of a

commercial centre or forum in commercial centre or forum in the town of Herculaneum, but the town of Herculaneum, but excavation has provided excavation has provided evidence of few thermopolia, a evidence of few thermopolia, a tavern and a bakery.tavern and a bakery.

As evident in both towns of As evident in both towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii, the Herculaneum and Pompeii, the House of Neptune and House of Neptune and Amphritrite is an example of Amphritrite is an example of residential and commercial residential and commercial activity. activity.

Agricultural and manufactured Agricultural and manufactured goodsgoods

Pompeii was initially a market Pompeii was initially a market town. The sale of town. The sale of manufactured goods and manufactured goods and agricultural produce was agricultural produce was evident. Some specialty evident. Some specialty stores sold imported goods. stores sold imported goods. There is little excavated There is little excavated evidence of manufacturing or evidence of manufacturing or trade at Herculaneum trade at Herculaneum although a number of shops although a number of shops which sold food and clothing which sold food and clothing have been uncoveredhave been uncovered..

AgricultureAgriculture

Fresh produce from local farms Fresh produce from local farms were sold in stalls and stores were sold in stalls and stores throughout the town of Pompeii. throughout the town of Pompeii.

The fresh produce included The fresh produce included Garum, olive-oil, wine, and Garum, olive-oil, wine, and various fresh foods such as various fresh foods such as vegetables and fruit. vegetables and fruit.

These products were sold locally These products were sold locally and internationally through and internationally through trade.trade.

Manufactured goodsManufactured goodsRaw and prepared foods were sold in Pompeii Raw and prepared foods were sold in Pompeii

and Herculaneum through street stands. and Herculaneum through street stands. Food shops were very common and the Food shops were very common and the majority of these sold hot food and drinks. majority of these sold hot food and drinks. These shops were known as thermopolia. These shops were known as thermopolia. Taverns (cauponau) were also common. Taverns (cauponau) were also common. 130 thermopolia and 20 cauponau have 130 thermopolia and 20 cauponau have been excavated at Pompeii. Garum, olive-oil been excavated at Pompeii. Garum, olive-oil and wine were very popular and sold in and wine were very popular and sold in most shops throughout the town.most shops throughout the town.

HerculaneumHerculaneumAs the town of Herculaneum has not As the town of Herculaneum has not

been fully uncovered there is little been fully uncovered there is little knowledge on the towns agriculture knowledge on the towns agriculture and manufacturing aspects.and manufacturing aspects.

Few shops have been excavated and Few shops have been excavated and identified as shops that sold food, identified as shops that sold food, drinks and clothing. drinks and clothing.

Advantages provided by the Advantages provided by the landland

The soil that surrounded Pompeii and The soil that surrounded Pompeii and Herculaneum was extremely fertile Herculaneum was extremely fertile providing an advantage for the providing an advantage for the ability to grow fresh produce and ability to grow fresh produce and establish farming industries including establish farming industries including vine-yards. The establishment of vine-yards. The establishment of these areas enhanced the towns these areas enhanced the towns ability to manufacture and grow ability to manufacture and grow sufficient goods. sufficient goods.