Agriculture and livestock in Ancient Rome

Scene of collection in the Roman era.

Agriculture and livestock farming was a very sustainable form of business in Ancient Rome. Farmers and herders were the core of Ancient Roman society. The main crop was cereals (especially wheat) and legumes. Later the vine was introduced, and even later the vineyards were reached and the olive tree was imported. As fruit trees, the fig tree stands out. The cultivation of vegetables, legumes and flax was also important.

In the beginning the Romans owned the land in usufruct and their wealth (pecunia) was measured by the herds, and personal savings were the peculium (having in cattle). Later private ownership of land was introduced.

The first lands of the Romans were called heredium de herus (owner), and at first they did not exceed two yugadas (5,400 square meters), although apart were the house, the stables, the barbechera and the pastures. These small tracts of land were soon overtaken and if at all held it was for the ancient cultivators of the dominated cities, but not for the Roman citizens.

The Romans improved agricultural techniques. They introduced the Roman plow, more efficient mills, such as the grain mill, the oil press, irrigation techniques, and the use of fertilizer.

In addition, the peasants owned small plots or leased part of the land from the patricians. The production surpluses were sold in the cities and commercial activities and manual work were not well regarded by the Romans; therefore, they were carried out by foreigners or slaves.

Day by day

Farmers plowed the land with their families. Plows were pulled by oxen. Only peasants who owned a lot of land used slaves or laborers.

The herds were grazed on communal pastures owned by the State, but could only be enjoyed by Roman citizens, the exception being the enjoyment by non-citizens, even if they were owners.

Work was followed by rest: four times a month, every eight days (Nonae) the peasant stopped his activity and dedicated himself to shopping in the city and other matters. The festivities were held after the winter sowing, and the rest then lasted a month for both the master and the slave and the animals (this festival was called the Paganalia deriving from pagus, that is, field).

Public lands

Rome's lands were periodically increased with about a third of the land being taken from defeated cities. In addition, the defeated had to cultivate the remaining two thirds to contribute to the charges and services as non-citizen owners. The third that corresponded to Rome (ager publicus) was partly transferred to Roman citizens.

When a city (or colony) was subdued or founded, land allocations were made. In the ager publicus, colonies were formed with Roman citizens as owners of at least twenty yugadas, and in fact a property of less than seven yugadas (between 16,640 and 18,900 square meters) was considered unprofitable.

Land concentration

So that the lands did not diminish, weddings were frequently made between the same family. The joint heirs generally continued to administer the estate undivided, and large partitions were not frequent. The custom endured, and even at the end of the Empire the fundus had the name of a single owner. The State often attributed land to these co-owners, thus avoiding partition after a few generations.

The acquisition of land by some owners, the few partitions, and the inheritances of other extinct family branches, led to the existence of some large properties. In these cases, the domain was parceled out, leaving a part for the owner who cultivated it (often through slaves) and the rest through parcels ceded in usufruct to relatives (usually children of the Pater familias), clients or slaves. If the usufructuary was free, the lease lasted for the time estimated by the landlord, who owned it in a state similar to what was later called precarious; In the event that the owner wanted to end the assignment, there was no legal way to oppose, although in return the usufructuary often did not pay census for use, and frequently evaded the benefits established by delivering a part of the fruits (what which brought him closer to the condition of lessee, without being so as there is no term for use). As the continuation of the use of the plot depended on the master, the bond of clientele was accentuated.

Society

The great proprietor was united to the gleba like the peasant. It was an agrarian aristocracy and not a citizen nobility. His house was where his farm was (although he had lodgings in the city, where he went periodically to fix his business or to spend the summer).

The mass of the proletarians was made up of the aforementioned squatters, free men from decadent families (with the right of citizenship), citizens of subject cities, or clients or freed slaves. Free peasants from subject cities often acted as laborers, although many owned their share of land. When the peasants of subject cities were turned into slaves, they frequently managed to obtain their freedom and became squatters. The set of free peasants but not owners became very numerous and provided the State with a nucleus of people always ready for colonization in the subject lands. In the subject cities most of the peasants were proprietors and free, slavery being rare except where all former citizens had been declared slaves of Rome. The slaves of Roman citizens generally came from the capture of enemies in wars; for the most part they were haughty and it was difficult to get them to obey; As they were good workers, they were assigned land as squatters, and as we have already said, it was common for them to end up being released.