Roman cargoes : underwater evidence from the Eastern Mediterranean
The study of marine archaeology is fast becoming one of the more important primary sources in connection with the research into patterns of movements of goods during the Roman period; it can help shed light on a number of questions regarding the use of simple and compound cargoes, for example, or the comparison between the distribution and location of wrecked cargoes and the finds on land in terms of production and consumption of goods and supplies. The main body of this work is the database of wrecks that were carrying products from the Eastern Mediterranean. The time span I have used for the wrecks (300 BC-AD 250) covers the rise of the Roman Empire up to and including its height; few areas remained self-sufficient, and as cities grew, especially of course Rome with possibly one million inhabitants, demand also grew, not only for foodstuffs, but also for building materials and luxury goods. In the first two centuries AD, during which time the Romans ruled a fairly trouble-free and politically stable empire, the possibilities for long-distance transport of goods seemed limitless. Trading relationships developed too with regions as far east as India. The finds from the shipwrecks reflect this growth in the
Strauss, Elisabeth Julia
Roman cargoes : underwater evidence from the Eastern Mediterranean. The study of marine archaeology is fast becoming one of the more important primary sources in connection with the research into patterns of movements of goods during the Roman period; it can help shed light on a number of questions regarding the use of simple and compound cargoes, for example, or the comparison between the distribution and location of wrecked cargoes and the finds on land in terms of production and consumption of goods and supplies. The main body of this work is the database of wrecks that were carrying products from the Eastern Mediterranean. The time span I have used for the wrecks (300 BC-AD 250) covers the rise of the Roman Empire up to and including its height; few areas remained self-sufficient, and as cities grew, especially of course Rome with possibly one million inhabitants, demand also grew, not only for foodstuffs, but also for building materials and luxury goods. In the first two centuries AD, during which time the Romans ruled a fairly trouble-free and politically stable empire, the possibilities for long-distance transport of goods seemed limitless. Trading relationships developed too with regions as far east as India. The finds from the shipwrecks reflect this growth in the
roman cargo underwater evidence eastern_mediterranean study marine archaeology fast become one_important primary_source connection pattern movement good roman_period help shed_light number question_regard use simple compound cargo example comparison distribution location wreck cargo find land term production_consumption good supply main_body work database wreck carry product eastern_mediterranean time span use wreck cover rise roman_empire include height area remain self_sufficient city grow especially course rome possibly inhabitant demand also grow foodstuff also build material luxury_good first_time romans rule fairly trouble free politically stable empire possibility long_distance transport good seem trading relationship develop region far_east india find shipwreck reflect growth