Aspects of the economic organization of the Roman household during the late Republic and early principate
This study seeks to put the economic organization of the elite Roman household into its social context. Despite the disdain for trade expressed by Roman writers, social and political competition required the paterfamilias to exploit every opportunity for gain, while socio-legal institutions, principally inheritance and dowry, required that, where possible, the household should comprise discrete, easily separated 'enterprises'. Since urban property typically came in small units (insulae, shops, workshops) and generated rents, it met these criteria. Chapters 1-3 investigate how the elite managed urban properties without necessarily being visibly involved; Cicero's 'portfolio' forms one case study. A highly organized urban familia was also essential, like those of Cicero, the Statilii, or the Volusii: craftsmen, traders, and agents attached to the household were vital to its success. Using a database, the distribution of tabernae, fulleries, and brothels at Pompeii, and their spatial relationship to the houses in which they occur, are analysed. Owners did not see their rural estates simply as sources of long-term, steady income: they were geared to profit, not merely self- sufficiency, and were not restricted
Parkins, Helen Margaret
Aspects of the economic organization of the Roman household during the late Republic and early principate. This study seeks to put the economic organization of the elite Roman household into its social context. Despite the disdain for trade expressed by Roman writers, social and political competition required the paterfamilias to exploit every opportunity for gain, while socio-legal institutions, principally inheritance and dowry, required that, where possible, the household should comprise discrete, easily separated 'enterprises'. Since urban property typically came in small units (insulae, shops, workshops) and generated rents, it met these criteria. Chapters 1-3 investigate how the elite managed urban properties without necessarily being visibly involved; Cicero's 'portfolio' forms one case study. A highly organized urban familia was also essential, like those of Cicero, the Statilii, or the Volusii: craftsmen, traders, and agents attached to the household were vital to its success. Using a database, the distribution of tabernae, fulleries, and brothels at Pompeii, and their spatial relationship to the houses in which they occur, are analysed. Owners did not see their rural estates simply as sources of long-term, steady income: they were geared to profit, not merely self- sufficiency, and were not restricted
aspects economic_organization roman household late_republic early_principate study_seek put economic_organization elite roman household social_context despite trade express roman writer social_political competition require exploit every opportunity gain socio legal institution principally inheritance require possible household comprise discrete easily separate since urban property typically come small_unit shop workshop generate rent meet criterion investigate elite manage urban property without necessarily involve cicero portfolio form case_study highly urban also essential like cicero craftsman trader agent attach household vital success using database distribution pompeii spatial_relationship house occur analyse see rural estate simply source long_term steady income profit merely self sufficiency restrict