Pax Romana

This work investigates resource consumption during the Roman Empire, and its effects on the civil collapse of ancient Rome. Investigation of the socioeconomic class system in ancient Rome provides a background for resource use based on the heavy distribution of land ownership among upper class citizens. Members of the rural lower class also maintain a significant role in the resource base of ancient Rome by providing the workforce for large agricultural estates. This work will also analyze the effect of population increase during the Pax Romana on resource scarcity and its implications on the eventual collapse of Roman civilization. The unsustainable nature of the Roman agrarian system, coupled with the developed notion that Roman society should

The economy of ancient Rome organized primarily around the benefit of the upper class, including the emperor and the senators. The senatorial class maintained a significant role in the resource use due to the large amount of land owned by member of the senate. Other than the emperor, the Roman senators served as the primary proprietors of latifundia, which were ranches that provided livestock and agricultural goods to the whole of Roman civilization. The next social class was that of the equites, who were characterized by freeborn men that owned property. This class included aristocrats, businessmen, and leaders of colonial territories. The equites also served an important role in resource allocation by leading and organizing the markets for food staples including grain, wine, and olive oil. The third class of citizens were the decurions, which included local administrators and members of municipal courts. The decurions maintained responsibility for environmental decisions at the local level, including disputes over property ownership or proposed infrastructure construction. The three aforementioned social groups controlled the majority of ancient Rome’s resources despite making up less than two-percent of the populous. The majority of the Roman population consisted of the rural inhabitants whose primary responsibility was laboring on

to 180 A.D., Rome experienced a period of peace and prosperity. During this period the urban population grew significantly, and began stretching into areas previously occupied by rural inhabitants. This expansion led to increased consumption of natural resources predominately in the areas of agriculture, water, and construction materials. Emperor Augustus attempted to address urban expansion by implementing an annual grain dole by which commoners received free grain. Although this system prevented immediate famine, it led to the depletion of grain stores which played a significant factor in the near collapse of Rome in the 3rd century. Augustus also sought to inundate the masses with entertainment by providing state-sponsored gladiator battles to the public. These barbaric shows often included the slaughtering of wild animals, and directly contributed to the depletion of game species from Europe, Armenia, and North Africa. Without significant improvements in agricultural technology, the Roman Empire began slipping into famine while problems became magnified during the great plague under Marcus Aurelius. Although the Pax Romana characterized a period of prosperity for the Roman Empire, unsustainable development during this period contributed to the near collapse of civilization in the 3rd