The Fall of Rome Podcast cover image

The Fall of Rome Podcast

13: The Unraveling of the Roman World

Mar 2, 2017
Explore the easy movement of goods, people, and beliefs in the Roman world and how its collapse affected individuals. Delve into the patterns of travel and communication, the impact of political boundaries on communication, and the journeys of real people during the unraveling Roman world. Wrap up with the collapse of the empire and the politics of post-Roman states.
46:04

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The Roman economy heavily relied on the movement of goods such as grain, olive oil, and pottery, facilitated by well-funded infrastructure maintained by the state.
  • The high level of personal mobility and interconnectedness among people played a crucial role in sustaining the Roman economy and culture.

Deep dives

Key Point 1: The Roman economy stood out due to full monetization and extensive movement of goods

The Roman economy was distinct because of a combination of full monetization, price-setting commercial markets, and the extensive movement of goods. Unlike other pre-modern economies, the Romans moved large quantities of low-value bulk items, such as grain, olive oil, wine, woolens, and pottery, across the Mediterranean world. This movement was made possible by the well-funded road and port infrastructure maintained by the Roman state.

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