Agrippina - 1
Essay Question: Using five ancient sources, two of which must be written, explain the economy of the cities of Vesuvius.
The economy of the cities of Vesuvius was small and commonly restricted to being local. The textile industry along with bakeries, vineyards, farms and the fishing industry all played part in the thriving commercial activity present at Pompeii and partly at Herculaneum, despite the fact that Herculaneum was primarily a fishing village, with little evidence of major craft manufacturing. It is widely accepted that agriculture dominated the economy, which is further endorsed by statements from historians which include Cato and his account ‘On agriculture’. Ancient sources reveal extensive information concerning the economic activity of the cities of Vesuvius, the importance of the textile industry is demonstrated by the sizeable Eumachia building which is believed to be the guild hall of the cloth industry. Bakeries were a significant feature of the streetscape in both Pompeii and Herculaneum suggesting the prominence this industry played in the economy of the local area. Pompeii appears to be more economically important as their markets were a place where fresh agricultural produce from local farms and specialty shops were sold, such as Pompeii’s famous ‘garum’ and wine.
The economy of Pompeii and Herculaneum was primarily agricultural. Farms cultivated a number of essential products, several of which were vineyards – and other crops such as, wheat, barley, grain, wool, grapes and olive trees. Working farms such as the ‘Villa Rusticae’ would have been worked by slaves and freedmen who held the economy together and perhaps owned by wealthy citizens of the town, as farming was considered to be honorable and elite. An exceptional agricultural product was olive oil, which was widely used and exported. The prominence olive oil played within the economic activity of Pompeii is demonstrated in sources from individuals such as Cato and his account ‘On
The economy of the cities of Vesuvius was small and commonly restricted to being local. The textile industry along with bakeries, vineyards, farms and the fishing industry all played part in the thriving commercial activity present at Pompeii and partly at Herculaneum, despite the fact that Herculaneum was primarily a fishing village, with little evidence of major craft manufacturing. It is widely accepted that agriculture dominated the economy, which is further endorsed by statements from historians which include Cato and his account ‘On agriculture’. Ancient sources reveal extensive information concerning the economic activity of the cities of Vesuvius, the importance of the textile industry is demonstrated by the sizeable Eumachia building which is believed to be the guild hall of the cloth industry. Bakeries were a significant feature of the streetscape in both Pompeii and Herculaneum suggesting the prominence this industry played in the economy of the local area. Pompeii appears to be more economically important as their markets were a place where fresh agricultural produce from local farms and specialty shops were sold, such as Pompeii’s famous ‘garum’ and wine.
The economy of Pompeii and Herculaneum was primarily agricultural. Farms cultivated a number of essential products, several of which were vineyards – and other crops such as, wheat, barley, grain, wool, grapes and olive trees. Working farms such as the ‘Villa Rusticae’ would have been worked by slaves and freedmen who held the economy together and perhaps owned by wealthy citizens of the town, as farming was considered to be honorable and elite. An exceptional agricultural product was olive oil, which was widely used and exported. The prominence olive oil played within the economic activity of Pompeii is demonstrated in sources from individuals such as Cato and his account ‘On
Bibliography: 2) Connolly. P, Pompeii. Oxford University Press, New York, 1979. 3) Brennan. B & Lazer. E, Pompeii & Herculaneum – Interpreting the Evidence. Ancient History Seminars, Australia, 2005. 4) Nappo. S, Pompeii. Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London, 1998. 5) Cooley. A & Cooley. M, Pompeii – A Source Book. Routledge, London, 2004. 6) Orr. A, Pompeii, BBC Books, London, 2003. 7) Geissler. M, Pompeii – Roman Culture Enriched in Ash, Craft – Art, 1995. 8) Goodman. M, The Roman World, Routledge, London, 1997. 9) Adkins. L & Adkins. R, Handbook to life in Ancient Rome, Library of Congress, New York, 1994. 10) Deiss. J, The Town of Hercules – A Buried Treasure Trove. Library of Congress, Singapore, 1995. 11) Curtis. R, The Salted Fish Industry of Pompeii, Archaeological Institute of America, America, 1984. 12) Jongman. W, The Economy and Society of Pompeii, Amsterdam: J.C. Gieben, 1988. 13) Perkins. J & Claridge. A, Pompeii AD 79, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1978. 14) Moeller. W, The Weavers at Pompeii Technology and Culture, Garland Publishing, London, 1969 P.561 Websites: [ 3 ]. Perkins. J & Claridge. A, Pompeii AD 79, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1978. [ 4 ]. Orr. A, Pompeii, BBC Books, London, 2003. [ 5 ]. Moeller. W, The Weavers at Pompeii Technology and Culture, Garland Publishing, London, 1969 P.561 [ 6 ] [ 7 ]. Goodman. M, The Roman World, Routledge, London, 1997. (P.142) [ 8 ] [ 9 ]. Curtis. R, The Salted Fish Industry of Pompeii, Archaeological Institute of America, America, 1984. [ 12 ]. Jongman. W, The Economy and Society of Pompeii, Amsterdam: J.C. Gieben, 1988.