WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Trade in the early Roman Empire allowed Rome to become as vast and great as it did. Emperor Augustus, despite his intense public and private spending, took control of trade from the government and expanded Roman influence by opening new trading markets in overseas areas such as Britain, Germany, and Africa.

Detailed explanation-2: -The expansion of the empire had given the Romans control of trade routes as well as territory. Traders traveling by land and sea connected people and goods throughout the empire. From Spain came wine, olive oil, copper, and gold. Britain sold its tin and wool.

Detailed explanation-3: -Initially, Rome’s wealthiest families, the patricians, held power and only they could hold political or religious offices. Everyone else was considered plebeian, and no member of this group could hold office. Over a period of nearly 200 years, however, the plebeians fought for and gained power within the government.

Detailed explanation-4: -The economy of the Roman Empire was predominantly agrarian: Roman landowners, agricultural laborers, and small tenant farmers were highly dependent upon one another for assuring stability.

Detailed explanation-5: -As in other preindustrial societies, the economy of the Roman Empire was based on agriculture, which employed the vast majority of the empire’s population.