Ancient Economy (330-0-1)

Topic

The Roman Economy as a Historical Perspective

Instructors

Taco Tjitte Terpstra
Kresge 4353

Meeting Info

Kresge Centennial Hall 2-440: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

It is perhaps unsurprising that our own time - obsessed as it is with GDP growth, the ups and downs of the stock market, inflation rates, the trade deficit - produces scholarship that studies the ancient Roman economy. This scholarship has made us increasingly aware of how different Rome was from the modern world. This course will focus on what that difference means for the realities of everyday life, both past and present. Questions to be addressed are: What did economic growth mean for the economy of the Romans? Can we even measure it? What role did energy consumption play in economic performance? What was the role of social class in business? What was the influence on the economy of a demographic regime in which life expectancy was low? How was trade conducted over long distances without fast means of communication and transportation? What was the role of technology and technological progress in the economy?

Class Materials (Required)

Cipolla, Carlo M. Before the Industrial Revolution: European Society and Economy 1000-1700 (New York 1994) ISBN-10 0393311988, ISBN-13 978-0393311983

Greene, Kevin The Archaeology of the Roman Economy (Berkeley 1992) ISBN-10: 0520074017 | ISBN-13: 978-0520074019

Class Notes

Starting November 21st please use the following link to sign up for the Waitlist for this course: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgNXUVYG7rEhw2GYZKZNcGbBp4oiQmWHkb0wKQTzRjgj5pHA/viewform

Class Attributes

Historical Studies Distro Area
SDG No Poverty
SDG Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG Decent Work & Economic Growth
SDG Innovation & Infrastructure