Diocletian's Last Furious Attempt to Stop Inflationary Prices

Diocletian was the author of a ot of what defines the next thousand years of history. He did it as a response to the particular economic necessities of his day, but once it all took root, it really took root. The infamous edict on maximum prices represented diocletian's last furious attempt to put a stop to inflationary prices. If you wanted to age less, that was your prerogative. Just don't charge more. Of course, even with the death penalty hanging over their heads, no one paid any attention to the edict. And everyone paid the going rate for everything, just as usually happens when draconian price controls are put into effect.