Go through the chapter carefully and pick out some basic features of Roman society and economy which you think make it look quite modern.
According to me, some basic features of the Roman society that make it look quite modern are:
1) Nuclear family: Many historians believe that nuclear family as an institution is a modern one and it has its origin in the 18th century. However, the existence of nuclear families in the Roman civilisation seems to contradict this opinion. In Rome, adult sons did not live with their families. In fact, adult brothers did not prefer to live in the same household.
2) Rights of women: A woman in Rome had full rights in the property of her father. On her father's death, she could become an independent property owner. A woman had full individual property rights in her husband's property. In other words, a married couple was not regarded as one but two financial entities. Divorce was an easy task and required only a notice either by the husband or by the wife. All these aspects are very modern in the sense that countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Congo are still struggling to provide equal rights to women.
3) Literacy: Since the mid-4th century BC, there has been evidence of the existence of schools in the Roman Empire. In these schools, basic socialisation and rudimentary education were taught to the children. Gradually, the schools developed and the quality of education increased.
Some basic features of the Roman economy that make it look quite modern are:
1) Economic infrastructure: The Roman Empire had strong infrastructure in the form of harbours, mines, brickyards, etc. The infrastructure provided an impetus to the Roman Empire to tread across the path of development and progress.
2) Trade: Trade was an important aspect of the Roman economy. The Roman Empire was crisscrossed with trade routes. Both sea routes and land routes were used for trading goods such as beef, corn, iron, leather, marble, olive oil, perfumes and wine with trading partners including Spain, the Gallic provinces, North Africa, Egypt and Italy.
3) Advanced technology: The Roman Empire developed several advanced technologies, for instance, the use of water-powered milling technology and hydraulic mining techniques in Spanish gold and silver mines. Such innovations show how modern the Romans were to understand and execute technology.
4) Money and banking: Efficient functioning of the economy requires several financial tools and institutions. These facts are known to us today when concepts like money and economy have emerged as rather complex mechanisms. The Romans were not ignorant of such concepts. There was the existence of organised money and banking networks in the ancient Rome. In fact, money changers or bankers were known as argentarius. Their stalls were found near markets and places where commerce was active such as the Roman Forum, theatres and harbours and ports.
1) Nuclear family: Many historians believe that nuclear family as an institution is a modern one and it has its origin in the 18th century. However, the existence of nuclear families in the Roman civilisation seems to contradict this opinion. In Rome, adult sons did not live with their families. In fact, adult brothers did not prefer to live in the same household.
2) Rights of women: A woman in Rome had full rights in the property of her father. On her father's death, she could become an independent property owner. A woman had full individual property rights in her husband's property. In other words, a married couple was not regarded as one but two financial entities. Divorce was an easy task and required only a notice either by the husband or by the wife. All these aspects are very modern in the sense that countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Congo are still struggling to provide equal rights to women.
3) Literacy: Since the mid-4th century BC, there has been evidence of the existence of schools in the Roman Empire. In these schools, basic socialisation and rudimentary education were taught to the children. Gradually, the schools developed and the quality of education increased.
Some basic features of the Roman economy that make it look quite modern are:1) Economic infrastructure: The Roman Empire had strong infrastructure in the form of harbours, mines, brickyards, etc. The infrastructure provided an impetus to the Roman Empire to tread across the path of development and progress.
2) Trade: Trade was an important aspect of the Roman economy. The Roman Empire was crisscrossed with trade routes. Both sea routes and land routes were used for trading goods such as beef, corn, iron, leather, marble, olive oil, perfumes and wine with trading partners including Spain, the Gallic provinces, North Africa, Egypt and Italy.
3) Advanced technology: The Roman Empire developed several advanced technologies, for instance, the use of water-powered milling technology and hydraulic mining techniques in Spanish gold and silver mines. Such innovations show how modern the Romans were to understand and execute technology.
4) Money and banking: Efficient functioning of the economy requires several financial tools and institutions. These facts are known to us today when concepts like money and economy have emerged as rather complex mechanisms. The Romans were not ignorant of such concepts. There was the existence of organised money and banking networks in the ancient Rome. In fact, money changers or bankers were known as argentarius. Their stalls were found near markets and places where commerce was active such as the Roman Forum, theatres and harbours and ports.
