Answer:
Trade Routes and Currency Help the Romans Build a Stronger Empire
You have learned that Rome grew its empire through a series of wars. The Romans knew how to conquer new territory. But it takes more than armies and fighting to keep an empire. An empire also needs a strong economy to feed its people, provide necessary goods as well as luxuries, and pay for its armies and government.
A key part of any economy is trade. As the empire grew, the Romans promoted trade by improving trade routes and providing a single currency, or form of money. Let’s look at how these steps helped the Romans grow their economy and strengthen their empire.
Trade Routes
At its height during the 100s c.e., the Roman Empire ruled all the lands that ringed the Mediterranean Sea. 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. Gaul produced olives, wine, grain, glass, and pottery. Wool, linen, and timber were shipped from Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and Syria. Egypt provided papyrus, which was used to make paper, and vast amounts of grain. Every year vast grain fleets sailed from Egypt and Africa, bringing much-needed food to Rome.
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