Grains, oil, and textiles were native to Babylonia while they exchanged timber, wine, precious metals, and stones. (merchants received in exchange for these items)
It happened because the consuls only cared about their own personal wealth and not for the people. The senate got richer and richer while the people got poorer and poorer. It ended with the rise of the Empire and the rule of an Emperor. The disadvantage was that all of the power was in the hand of a single person and often the Roman emperors were tyrannical.
A luxurious brick mansion in the upscale DC neighbourhood of Kalorama.
