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Soldiers and booze: The rise and decline of a Roman market economy in north-western Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Eltjo Buringh
  • Jan Luiten van Zanden
  • Maarten Bosker

    (Universiteit Utrecht and Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Abstract

This study quantifies the importance of the Roman military for the development of a market economy in north-western Europe. Distributions of low denomination coins show how the Roman arrival kick-started a local market economy. Additionally settlement densities of fluvial catchments are used as a proxy for economic development. Our newly constructed dataset of settlement sizes shows a high correlation with Roman military requirements. After the demise of the empire the local market economy faded away. This antique market economy had a different geographical distribution than its medieval successor, which was not mainly driven by military demand.

Suggested Citation

  • Eltjo Buringh & Jan Luiten van Zanden & Maarten Bosker, 2012. "Soldiers and booze: The rise and decline of a Roman market economy in north-western Europe," Working Papers 0032, Utrecht University, Centre for Global Economic History.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucg:wpaper:0032
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. L. De Benedictis & V. Licio & AM. Pinna, 2018. "The long-term effects of the historical Roman road network: trade costs of Italian provinces," Working Paper CRENoS 201801, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    2. Fabian Wahl, 2017. "Does European development have Roman roots? Evidence from the German Limes," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 313-349, September.
    3. Wahl, Fabian, 2015. "The long shadow of history: Roman legacy and economic development - evidence from the German limes," Hohenheim Discussion Papers in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 08-2015, University of Hohenheim, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences.
    4. V. Licio, 2019. "When history leaves a mark: a new measure of Roman roads," Working Paper CRENoS 201904, Centre for North South Economic Research, University of Cagliari and Sassari, Sardinia.
    5. Vania Licio, 2021. "When History Leaves a Mark: A New Measure of Roman Roads," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 7(1), pages 1-35, March.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    market economy; historical development; Roman Empire; north-western Europe; inland waterway transport; coin finds;
    All these keywords.

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