The Economy of Ancient Rome
Economics Explained
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The Rise and Fall of Rome
In the year 33 AD, Rome was in a financial crisis due to falling land prices on the Italian peninsula. The banks at the time had been lending more and more of their reserves out into dodgy investments or sinking ships so they didn't actually have that much left in their vault. So when the senators came knocking, they basically had to shut their doors. This is called a bank run. People were desperate for cash - which quickly made it one of the most valuable things to be holding onto. In an effort to maintain these prices, the emperor decreed that all senators in Rome must have at least one third of their wealth invested into land within the space of 18 months. Getting money back
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