Commerce and social standing in ancient Rome

John D'arms Explores Here A Question Of Central Importance For The Social Economic History Of The Roman World: Which Sectors Of Society Were Actively Engaged In Trade? In The Late Roman Republic And Early Empire Senators Were Prohibited By Law From Direct Participation In Seaborne Commerce; Trade Was Not Considered A Respectable Pursuit. Yet Large Fortunes Were Amassed By Men Of Rank Through A Variety Of Lucrative Enterprises. Exploiting The Evidence Of Literature, Archaeology, And Inscription, D'arms Constructs Case Histories Which Reveal How Senators Realized Commercial Profits By Indirect Involvement: Freedmen, Municipal Notables, And Friends Often Served As The Equivalent Of Partners Or Agents Of Aristocrats With Large Holdings In Land. In Demonstrating A Flexibility In Upper-class Attitudes Toward Commercial Activity, He Offers A Study In The Adaptation Of A Social System To Economic Realities. Frontmatter -- Preface -- Contents -- Figures -- Abbreviations -- 1. Traders In Roman Society: Two Approaches -- 2. Attitudes, Conduct, And Commercial Organization In The Late Republic -- 3. Senators And Commerce -- 4. Luxury, Productivity, And Decline: Villa Society On The Bay Of Naples -- 5. The Typicality Of Trimalchi -- 6. The Freedmen Of Puteoli And Ostia In Imperial Economy And Society -- 7. Attitudes, Conduct, And Commercial Organization In The Early Empire -- Appendix. Augustales Of Puteoli And Ostia -- Bibliography -- Index John H. D'arms. Mode Of Access: Internet Via World Wide Web. In English.