The Economy – trade and commerce

1. The Economy – trade and commerce Hannah McManus Trade Commercial buildings Agricultural and Manufactured goods

2. Trade Pompeii was known as the trade centre of southern Campania for 600 years. Trade involving Pompeii was associated with numerous areas of northern Italy. Trade through the harbour at Pompeii involved an importation and exportation of goods. There are no sources providing evidence that Herculaneum was a major trading centre.

3. Trade - Imports The majority of evidence of Pompeian imports and exports are deciphered through pottery. The analysis of these sources show that lamps from northern Italy, pottery from Gaul, wine from Spain, Crete, and Sicily, and oil from southern Spain were imported. Jars were also discovered that trace to Gaul Greece and various areas of Italy. Goods also came from Egypt, parts of Syria and Palestine.

4. Trade - Exports The most renowned exports of Pompeii were Garum (fish-sauce), wine and olive-oil. These exports were praised in letters from Pliny the Elder. As workshop production was on a small scale very few goods were produced for exports. Most recent investigations have discovered that the exports from Pompeii were limited.

5. Trade – Geographical Positioning The geographical positioning of Pompeii made it ideal for trade. The harbour was accessible through the Mediterranean Sea and the Sarno river provided access to other towns of Campania. The harbour was constantly busy with ships, merchants and sailors. An artists impression of Pompeii’s Harbour

6. Trade – Areas that traded with Pompeii The products exported from Pompeii have been excavated throughout the Roman empire. This includes Spain, Gaul and North Africa. These products have also been discovered inside Pompeii itself suggesting that import/export was not extensive.

7. Commerce – buildings, finance Commerce in Pompeii was conducted in public buildings that opened onto the streets and the larger franchises were located in the forum or business centre. Large houses often rented out rooms to be used as shops, taverns, workshops or other commercial buildings. As Herculaneum is not known to have a forum or business centre, it is likely that the shops were connected to houses in this manner throughout the residential areas of the town or were insulae.

8. Finance Two collections of waxed wooden tablets reveal and record business transactions. In the house of Lucius Caecilius Jucundus (a banker) , there were 150 receipts for rents and loans recorded onto the tablets. The Sulpicii (a firm of freedman working as financiers) lent large amounts of money to local businessmen and recorded these transactions on wooden tablets.

9. Commercial buildings The commerce which was conducted in the public buildings sold goods that were likely to be made on the premises in workshops, or bought from foreign merchants or local traders. The macellum was the main food market of Pompeii and was located in the north-eastern corner of the forum. The perimeter of the macellum was surrounded in shops and stalls which centred a covered fish market.

10. Industries and regulations A sex industry was prominent in Pompeii and Herculaneum where some prostitutes worked from local brothels. The largest brothel excavated in Pompeii (the lupinarium) was a multi-room establishment. Some prostitutes worked from houses and single-rooms in taverns. The Mensa Ponderaria was built into the wall of the temple of Apollo and were a set of standard weights and measures. Inscriptions show that the original weights and measures used were Oscan, but later updated to Roman standards.

11. Herculaneum There is no evidence of a commercial centre or forum in the town of Herculaneum, but excavation has provided evidence of few thermopolia, a tavern and a bakery. As evident in both towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii, the House of Neptune and Amphritrite is an example of residential and commercial activity.

12. Agricultural and manufactured goods Pompeii was initially a market town. The sale of manufactured goods and agricultural produce was evident. Some specialty stores sold imported goods. There is little excavated evidence of manufacturing or trade at Herculaneum although a number of shops which sold food and clothing have been uncovered.

13. Agriculture Fresh produce from local farms were sold in stalls and stores throughout the town of Pompeii. The fresh produce included Garum, olive-oil, wine, and various fresh foods such as vegetables and fruit. These products were sold locally and internationally through trade.

14. Manufactured goods Raw and prepared foods were sold in Pompeii and Herculaneum through street stands. Food shops were very common and the majority of these sold hot food and drinks. These shops were known as thermopolia. Taverns (cauponau) were also common. 130 thermopolia and 20 cauponau have been excavated at Pompeii. Garum, olive-oil and wine were very popular and sold in most shops throughout the town.

15. Herculaneum As the town of Herculaneum has not been fully uncovered there is little knowledge on the towns agriculture and manufacturing aspects. Few shops have been excavated and identified as shops that sold food, drinks and clothing.

16. Advantages provided by the land The soil that surrounded Pompeii and Herculaneum was extremely fertile providing an advantage for the ability to grow fresh produce and establish farming industries including vine-yards. The establishment of these areas enhanced the towns ability to manufacture and grow sufficient goods.