I tried so hard for my Ancient Rome economy essay ( 13 years old) and my social studies teacher said it was good but she reduced my marks because she assumed i copied and pasted. Now, another girl in my class who did copy and paste, ( which i saw and she admitted openly) got a higher mark than me. Should i tell the teacher for what she has done? I got 17/20 and i know i should be happy with this but it doesnt feel right because it wasnt her own. If it was i wouldnt compare at all. She got 19/20.

This is my assignment ( dont have to read it ! LOL)

The economy of the early Republic was primarily focused on farming and trading. Agricultural trading developed in Italy and by the 1st Century BC a diversity of olives and grapes was produced. While North Africa supplied a variety of grains the Roman’s main exports were olive oil and wine. Ancient Rome was a slave based society whose main concern was to feed the immense population of citizens.

Farmers donated financial tax to the government allowing both the Republican and Imperial leaders to gain popularity as well as being able to feed the people at no monetary cost. Unfortunately this left the farmers with little incentive to produce more crops as producing more crops translated to paying more taxes.

While the transportation of foods controlled the trading production there was also a vast exchange of other goods including farm products, livestock, silk from China, wild animals from Africa and many more from all parts of Europe, Asia and Africa.

The currency of the Republic consisted of coins including the aureus, (gold) denarius, (silver) sestertius (bronze) and dupondius (copper). They were used from approximately the middle of the third century BC until the third century AD. The coins circulated throughout the Empire and even beyond – some being found in India. The value of a single, copper coin was equivalent to a pound of copper only weighing less.
The imagery of the coins only became of an importance when Julius Caesar beared his own portrait on coins. Julius was the first living individual to have his portrait issued on the coins, prior to that, it was with the portraits of ancestors. The exact reason the Roman coinage system debased constantly is unknown but common theories involve trading with India.

The largest industry in Ancient Rome was mining, which provided large stones for large building developments, weapons and tools that conquered the ancient west. Italy provided marble for the structures. Cities and towns established pottery, glassware, weapons, tools and jewellery.

For military and transportations use, the Romans became skilled at constructing roads. They were necessary for their empire, as roads allowed the army to move rapidly, as well as transporting cattle and vehicles. The roads expanded to over 400,000km over the years, were created such as; vehicles were forbidden in urban areas except for the exception of married women and business men.

Trade by land was only convenient if good were being transported in short distances, sometimes hauled by labour slaves. Most large goods such as foods, metals, stone and building supplies were shipped. The Roman navy, under Augustus was in threat as the severe weather, imprecise charts and bad navigation equipment could wreck on the voyage. Yet, despite the dangers, there was no better way trading cargo than by sea.

The foundation of slavery in Ancient Rome covered up to 20% of the entire population (no less than 53,000 people). Those held in this position were less of a person in the legal system and weren’t entitled to marry. A slave’s price varied on their capability and skills. For example a slave trained in medicine was worth 50 agricultural slaves. They were the property of their owners and they yearned for freedom and escape. By the late republic the economy was reliant on slaves for both skilled and unskilled.

Free citizens of Ancient Rome were divided into two classes; Patricians and Plebeians. These two classes were forbidden to intermarry and were categorized into their groups since birth. Although not impossible, it was highly difficult for the lower class to emerge into the higher social class. The distinction between the two classes was mainly based on wealth. The man in the family ‘owned’ his family, children and slaves just as he owned his swords and was entitled to control them as he wished. Women gained respect from their husbands or son.

PATRICIANS:

•These family groups claimed to be related to the ancestors (Romulus himself).
•Sewed a purple stripe down their tunics to show their significance.
•Large land owners.
•Large banquets for dinner.
•Wealthy higher class.
•Each family member obtains individual rooms.

PLEBIANS:

•Working class of Rome.
•Lived in small apartment houses.
•No bathrooms – used pots that were thrown out of the window.
•Cooked meals in public ovens
•On

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