Roman Farmers
Roman Farmers
When the first settlers arrived in Rome the only plants that were there were beech, oak, laurel, and pine trees. The settlers began deforestation around 700 B.C., they used some of these trees to build homes. The volcanic ash helped make the soil very rich and fertile, but it would only grow a good crop of wheat well for about two growing seasons. Farmers plowed little rows to plant the seeds. They plowing the ground over and over again until the soil got crumbly and dusty, this helped the plants could get all of the nutrients they needed to grow. After they plowed the ground they plowed the seed down into the ground.
Agriculture was the foundation of Rome’s economy. Most rural people were poor farmers. Men, women, and child worked very hard long days. Most small farms were two to five acres. When poor farmers were kicked out they would move to the city to find work . Some farmers were tenant farmers, this means they would work for part of the harvest. If farmers couldn't afford their own land they would rent from land owners. They would paid rent in money, crops, or animals.
If a farmer could afford it they purchased a slave to help them with their farm work. Slaves were a big part of the economy because they were cheap labor. Many slaves were brought back and then sold and the money went to help with wars. People who were conquered in war were usually forced into slavery.
When it came time for the farmers to harvest the wheat and grain that they grew they used a cart that had knives on the front to cut it down. To separate the grain form the stalk they had horses walk on top of it. The families used a lot of what they grew, but sold the rest of what they had . Small farms did not only grow grains but also grew many different fruits and vegetables. Roman farmers turned to two cash crops grapes and olives. They got the idea of growing these cash crops from the greeks. These two crops were so valuable because the olives were used for olive oil and the
When the first settlers arrived in Rome the only plants that were there were beech, oak, laurel, and pine trees. The settlers began deforestation around 700 B.C., they used some of these trees to build homes. The volcanic ash helped make the soil very rich and fertile, but it would only grow a good crop of wheat well for about two growing seasons. Farmers plowed little rows to plant the seeds. They plowing the ground over and over again until the soil got crumbly and dusty, this helped the plants could get all of the nutrients they needed to grow. After they plowed the ground they plowed the seed down into the ground.
Agriculture was the foundation of Rome’s economy. Most rural people were poor farmers. Men, women, and child worked very hard long days. Most small farms were two to five acres. When poor farmers were kicked out they would move to the city to find work . Some farmers were tenant farmers, this means they would work for part of the harvest. If farmers couldn't afford their own land they would rent from land owners. They would paid rent in money, crops, or animals.
If a farmer could afford it they purchased a slave to help them with their farm work. Slaves were a big part of the economy because they were cheap labor. Many slaves were brought back and then sold and the money went to help with wars. People who were conquered in war were usually forced into slavery.
When it came time for the farmers to harvest the wheat and grain that they grew they used a cart that had knives on the front to cut it down. To separate the grain form the stalk they had horses walk on top of it. The families used a lot of what they grew, but sold the rest of what they had . Small farms did not only grow grains but also grew many different fruits and vegetables. Roman farmers turned to two cash crops grapes and olives. They got the idea of growing these cash crops from the greeks. These two crops were so valuable because the olives were used for olive oil and the