Did the Romans live better than us? | Quality of Life and Salaries
TLDRThis video script delves into the economic and social lives of three distinct individuals in the 3rd century AD Roman Empire, providing a snapshot of their income, diet, and lifestyle. Theodorus, a tenant farmer, struggles to sustain his family on a modest income, while Aurelius Flavinus, a soldier, enjoys a more comfortable life with military benefits, including food rations and a higher status. Lastly, Tatianus, a wealthy aristocrat, exemplifies the opulent lifestyle of the elite, with vast landholdings and the ability to afford extravagant feasts and luxurious goods. The narrative explores the Edict on Maximum Prices, a legislative attempt to curb inflation, and uses it as a backdrop to compare the vastly different experiences of these three Romans, offering viewers a glimpse into the socioeconomic disparities of the era.
Takeaways
- 📜 The 3rd century AD was a challenging period for the Roman Empire, marked by barbarian invasions, internal instability, and rampant inflation.
- 📊 In response to economic turmoil, Emperor Diocletian issued the Edict on Maximum Prices, an extensive piece of legislation aimed at controlling inflation by setting price ceilings for goods and services.
- 👥 The script explores the lives of three individuals from different social classes—Theodorus the tenant farmer, Aurelius Flavinus the soldier, and Tatianus the aristocrat—to illustrate the varying quality of life during this era.
- 🌾 Theodorus, earning a stable salary, could sustain his family on a modest diet primarily consisting of bread, olive oil, and supplemented by beans, vegetables, and occasional animal products.
- 🛡️ Aurelius, as an Optio in the Roman army, enjoyed a better standard of living than Theodorus, with his basic needs provided for and a surplus to spend on luxuries like quality wine and a formal tunic.
- 🏛️ Tatianus, as a wealthy aristocrat, had a significantly larger budget and was obligated to fulfill various public duties, including tax collection and maintenance of public infrastructure.
- 💸 The financial disparity is evident, with Tatianus having the means to spend lavishly on personal expenses, such as a grand feast for his wife's birthday and the decoration of his villa with marble columns.
- 👕 Clothing and personal items were significant expenses for all classes, but the quality and cost varied greatly, from simple, self-made garments for Theodorus to extravagant silks and gold-embroidered clothing for Tatianus.
- 🍇 The diet of the Romans varied from basic sustenance for the lower classes to a diverse and exotic range of foods for the wealthy, with a focus on showcasing status through extravagant feasts.
- 🏡 Housing and heating were necessities for all, but while Theodorus required firewood for heating, Tatianus invested in significant home improvements, such as marble columns.
- 📈 The economic strategies of the time, such as the Edict on Maximum Prices, were not uniformly successful and highlight the complexities of managing inflation even with extensive regulation.
- 📚 Education was valued and seen as an expense for the children of Tatianus, indicating a recognition of its importance for personal and social advancement.
Q & A
What was one of the major challenges faced by the Roman Empire during the IIIrd century AD?
-The Roman Empire faced several challenges during the IIIrd century AD, including mass barbarian invasions, growing internal instability, and rampant inflation that had been unchecked for almost a century.
What was the Edict on Maximum Prices created by Emperor Diocletian?
-The Edict on Maximum Prices was a significant piece of Roman economic legislation that listed hundreds of different goods and services along with the maximum prices at which they could be sold. It was intended to control the growing inflation and profiteering by setting universal fixed prices.
What was the occupation of Theodorus, a man living in the town of Thera on the island of Santorini?
-Theodorus worked as a tenant farmer, which meant he worked on the land of a landowner to whom all his produce went. In return, he received a stable salary and had his taxes covered.
How much was Theodorus' salary according to the Edict?
-According to the Edict, Theodorus' salary was 25 denarii per day, plus a daily food ration.
What were the dietary staples of a typical Roman family like Theodorus'?
-The dietary staples of a typical Roman family included bread, which was their biggest source of protein and the largest expense, and olive oil, which was a must in any Roman family's diet.
What was the official salary of a Roman soldier in the IIIrd century?
-The official salary of a Roman soldier in the IIIrd century was 3,600 denarii per year, which equates to about 69 denarii per week.
What benefits did a Roman soldier like Aurelius Flavinus receive in addition to his salary?
-In addition to his salary, Aurelius received a food pension of 600 denarii, two generous donatives of 5,000 denarii each year from the Emperors, and when on a foreign expedition, he was quartered among the civilian population, thus not needing to pay for housing.
What was the social status of Aurelius Flavinus in the Roman military?
-Aurelius Flavinus was an Optio, a rank he held after serving faithfully for 14 years. As an Optio, he was a non-commissioned officer, the second in command to the centurion in the Roman legion.
What was the approximate weekly budget of Tatianus, a local aristocrat and city council member?
-Tatianus' weekly budget was estimated to be at least five times larger than his expenses, which were about 9,525 denarii. Therefore, his weekly budget might have been around 47,000 denarii.
What were some of the obligations Tatianus had as a member of the local aristocracy and city council?
-Tatianus' obligations included tax collection, maintenance of public buildings and roads, purchase and distribution of free oil and grain for the poor, and providing for visiting units of the Roman Army or Imperial bureaucracy.
What was a significant expense for Tatianus during the harvest season?
-A significant expense for Tatianus during the harvest season was hiring seasonal laborers. He needed to increase the workforce from 37 to 64, which cost him 5,346 denarii per week for their salaries and food pensions.
Outlines
📜 Economic Struggles and Diocletian's Edict on Maximum Prices
The script begins by discussing the economic turmoil in the Roman Empire during the IIIrd century AD, characterized by barbarian invasions and internal instability. A significant issue was rampant inflation, leading to the creation of the Edict on Maximum Prices by Emperor Diocletian. This legislation aimed to control inflation by setting maximum prices for goods and services, although it was difficult to enforce and ultimately unsuccessful. The edict provides a snapshot of common goods and their relative prices at the time, allowing for an exploration of the lives of individuals from different social classes, including their income, diet, and standard of living.
👨🌾 The Life of Theodorus, a Tenant Farmer
Theodorus, a 30-year-old man living in Thera, works as a tenant farmer with his wife and daughter. His income, as per the Edict, is 25 denarii per day, totaling 150 denarii weekly. The family's diet consists mainly of bread, olive oil, and affordable supplements like beans and peas. They occasionally enjoy vegetables and fruits and drink ordinary wine and wheat beer. Theodorus must also budget for clothing, shoes, heating, rent, and taxes. Despite the challenges, the average Roman, like Theodorus, could provide for his family's basic needs, offering a better standard of living compared to serfs and medieval peasants.
🏺 Aurelius Flavinus: A Soldier's Financial Standing
Aurelius Flavinus, a 36-year-old soldier in the 11th Claudia legion, has a weekly salary of 69 denarii, supplemented by a food pension and donatives from the Emperors. As an Optio, he enjoys a higher status and better pay, which he supplements with rations, clothing, or equipment. Aurelius spends his weekly budget of 137 denarii on celebrations, food, and drink, while also addressing necessary expenses like cloak repairs and purchasing a formal tunic. His disciplined saving allows him to afford luxuries and a comfortable economic position, demonstrated by his ability to commission a costly funerary monument upon his death.
🏛️ Tatianus: The Wealth and Responsibilities of a Roman Aristocrat
Tatianus, a wealthy aristocrat and city council member from Tralles, owns extensive properties and has numerous slaves and tenant farmers. His weekly expenses include taxes, maintenance for his slaves, and salaries for his tenants. Despite the high costs, Tatianus has a substantial budget, estimated at around 47,000 denarii weekly. His obligations to the Roman State and community are significant, including tax collection and public maintenance. He also manages his land and deals with the death of a slave, opting to hire a tenant farmer. Tatianus is also responsible for the welfare of an imperial envoy's retinue and organizes a lavish feast for his wife's birthday, showcasing the extravagance of Roman aristocratic life.
🎉 Extravagance and Display: Tatianus' Feast and Household Expenses
The script details the extravagant preparations for Tatianus' wife's birthday feast, which includes an array of exotic meats, spices, and high-quality wine. He also hires cooks and water carriers for the event and purchases an ostrich for safe entertainment. Additionally, Tatianus invests in the education of his children and decorates his villa with marble columns from various regions, showcasing his wealth and taste. The total cost of the marble project is a significant portion of his weekly income, yet it serves to enhance the grandeur of his residence and reflect his social status.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Roman Empire
💡Inflation
💡Edict on Maximum Prices
💡Social Classes
💡Tenant Farmer
💡Soldier
💡Aristocrat
💡Denarius
💡Mediterranean Diet
💡Public Bath
💡Funerary Monument
Highlights
The IIIrd century AD was a period of mass barbarian invasions and internal instability for the Roman Empire.
Rampant inflation had been growing unchecked for almost a century, leading to a desperate response by Emperor Diocletian.
The Edict on Maximum Prices was created to control inflation by setting universal fixed prices for goods and services.
The edict was difficult to enforce and remained a failed experiment, but it provides insight into the commodities and their relative prices at the time.
Theodorus, a tenant farmer, earned a stable salary and had his taxes covered by his landowner.
Theodorus' family's diet was dominated by bread and olive oil, with additional supplements like beans, peas, and vegetables.
Aurelius Flavinus, a soldier in the 11th Claudia legion, received a salary and benefits including food and donatives from the Emperors.
Soldiers like Aurelius could afford luxuries and save money due to their covered basic expenses.
Tatianus, a wealthy aristocrat, owned extensive properties and had significant expenses related to his status and obligations.
Tatianus' wealth allowed for a lavish lifestyle, including hosting extravagant feasts and purchasing high-quality goods.
The average Roman in the IIIrd century was capable of providing for his family's basic needs and some secondary household needs.
Physically fit and capable Romans could join the army to improve their standard of living and social class.
The death of a slave presented Tatianus with the dilemma of replacing him, considering the high cost and risks involved.
Tatianus' expenses included taxes, maintaining his properties, and fulfilling obligations to the Roman State and local community.
Tatianus' decision to replace a slave with a tenant farmer due to the risks and costs involved.
Tatianus' investment in marble columns for his villa as a display of wealth and taste.
Transcripts
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