Feeding Rome: Food supply, trade and consumption in an ancient metropolis

Abstract

In this dissertation various aspects of the Roman economy and of Roman society related to food are reconstructed based on an interdisciplinary approach. The study focuses on the city of Rome in the period between the 2nd century BCE and the beginning of the 4th century CE. First of all, the food culture and eating habits of the Romans are reconstructed. Subsequently, the food supply chain is investigated, and the role of the state and that of the free market in obtaining food are clarified. A comparative historical solution is proposed to reconstruct the food baskets of various income groups in Roman society, together with the costs of such baskets. Eventually, the value of the food annually consumed in Rome is calculated. Many historians interested in the ancient economy believe that most of Rome’s population struggled for survival on a monotonous and nutritionally inadequate diet. This thesis shows that such view is inconsistent with the available sources. The eating patterns of the inhabitants of ancient Rome were rather diversified, and food choices were mainly linked to income. In addition, broadly accepted figures regarding the size of the Roman economy are underestimated.