Roman society does not form a silk trade boom
November 25, 2019 at 09:26 Source: "China Social Sciences" November 25, 2019 Total No. 1822 Author: Zhang Shuang

Silk trade is connected to many countries in ancient Eurasia、An important link between the farming people and nomadic peoples。Oriental luxury goods represented by silk,It was trafficked to Rome through trade,Stimulated Roman society's unremitting exploration of Oriental Silk Road。The reason why silk trade can be rooted in Roman society,The political function of the silk that declares the imperial power and distinguish the level。But,Due to the restrictions from social levels and economic structures,Roman society has not formed a wave of society to participate in silk trade。

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3rd century BC,After the rise of the Hun Empire,Through war、Harmony、Chaigong and other methods,Get a lot of silk products from the Central Plains。The production and living necessities required for the nomadic economy,The Huns pass through the western countries,Most of the silk to Central Asia,or even farther region。In the middle of the 2nd century BC,Persian merchants began to be in the form of trade,Give a lot of silk to Greece and Roman World。Late 2nd century BC,Zhang Jian twice to the West Region,Drive West Asia、Prosperity of Silk Trade in Central Asia。Similarly,Rome、Greece、Products in West Asia and Western Regions,Also sold to China through the Ssute Council and the Western Regions。Therefore,With Eurasia's nomadic empire、Farming Country、Formation of the National Group of Oasis City State,and nomadic economy、Oasis City State、Interconnection of the farming economy,Silk trading system that Bet365 lotto review runs through the Europeania and Asia to form a。

Under the condition of the increasingly prosperous Eurasian silk trade,Romans against silkworms、The understanding of silk is not far from the real situation。The Roman period Greek travelers and geographical scientists Bao Sandanus in "Greek" completed in 174 AD,Although the mulberry leaves eaten by the silkworm are called "green reeds",Four transformations of silkworms in their lives mistakes four years,The growth of the silkworm is attributed to "You need to use millet to feed",But for the first time, he pointed out that "silk" is not a long self -plant,Instead, produced by small animals similar to spiders。At the end of the 1st century,"Eritrea Navigation" written by the seafarers along the Indian Ocean Coast has noticed,The hub of East East East East and West Section is located north of Xingdu Kush Mountain、Barkhria, Northeast Africa。mid -2nd century,Greek geographical scientist Ptolemy in "Geography",Detailed records of Macedonian merchant Mess's route from the Euphrase Estuary via Barkrtria to Shita (now Tashkkkkkkkkkkkit Autonomous County, Kashgar area, Xinjiang)。

In short,With the formation and prosperity of the Eurasian Silk Trading System,Roman Knowledge Class to silkworm、Silk production and the direction of Eurani Silk Road、Geographical location of important hubs,I have roughly accurate understanding。

  It does not affect the Roman economic structure

Affected by the social and political system of Rome,Silk has become an important material for declared Roman imperial power and maintenance level order。Have and wear silk clothing,It is a symbol of the identity and status of Roman Quan wealth and the rich class。Therefore,Imported a large amount of silk becomes the inner political needs of Roman society。Long bet365 best casino games -distance transportation、Taxation of STD Trade and the intermediary links,The price is high when the silk is transported to Rome。Roman scholar Plinti thinks,Oriental luxury trade represented by silk consumes a lot of wealth in Roman society。He wrote in "History of Nature" in 77 AD: "With the lowest estimation,Flows into India every year from my empire、Fortune of Celez and Arabian Peninsula,Total 100 million Copper Coins。This is the price that our luxury and women let us pay! "Then,Does silk trade have a substantial impact on the Roman economy? Let's analyze from the social and economic structure of Rome。

First,After entering the Empire era at the end of the 1st century BC,The Roman economy is in a relatively prosperous stage,A large number of slaves and gold flow into Rome。Augustus and later emperors are committed to developing industry and commerce,Abolition of transit taxes and various extortion of businessmen,Comparative bandits and pirates,Luxury consumption represented by silk and jewelry is also regarded as the power to drive commercial development。Emperor Tibi is the successor of Augustus,When someone plays him, please restrict the consumption of luxury goods,He said, "I don’t know,At the banquet and social assembly, everyone is disgusted with such things,All require restrictions。But,If you decide to punish these things with the law,The people who cursed these things now will get up and say,This is a big disaster of the country,It is a fatal blow to all the prominent characters,He will make anyone a crime。"" "Embiotic Emperor does not want to prohibit luxury trade,In the small farmer's economy occupies a dominant position in the Roman economic structure,Industry and commerce only occupies a small share。

bet365 Play online games Next,Urban economy is the basis of industrial and commercial development,Roman cities generally only play the role of nearby regional markets。Even if it is a big city,Its commercial trade coverage is also extremely limited。For example,Akike,The larger villages around them are based on their own "grass market" as the industry and commerce center。

Last,Except the imperial government and huge bureaucracy,People who have the ability to consume silk in Roman society are mainly nobles、Big bureaucracy、Wealthy businessman、Big Real Estate Lord,These people occupy very little in the Roman population。Most of these upper people's wealth is consumed in campaign、Public office,Money used to buy silk is also very limited。

To sum up,Silk trade has not constituted a substantial impact on Roman society,It will not affect the normal operation of its economy。This is the main reason why the silk can be imported in large quantities of Rome although the price is high。

 Silk merchants and weaving workers are not high

In Rome,East luxury trade such as silk is a shortcut to the rich。Egypt's port city Alexander is connected to the Mediterranean、Red Sea、Hub on the Arabian Peninsula,Silk trade brings a lot of wealth to the local shipper。For example,A transshipment merchant engaged in luxury trade such as silk,Leave 5000 gold coins (about 70 pounds of gold) to its heirs。At that time,An ordinary person only needs four or five gold coins,You can not worry about eating and wear for a year。but but,Nobles in Roman society、Bulletin and landlords rarely engage in luxury trade such as silk。This is because: on the one hand,Roman law prohibits members of the elderly or privileged nobles participating in commercial trade; on the other hand,It is out Bet365 lotto review of economic consideration,They can get stable and high income in relying on large real estate,No need to engage in risk -filled luxury trade such as silk。For example,An income obtained from an ordinary veteran from the land every year,Generally, it can reach 1000-1500 pounds of gold,up to 4000 pounds of gold,In addition, there are a lot of physical income。Silk trade is a shortcut to the rich,But it cannot be compared with large real estate income at all。

In Roman society,The way to get rich quickly is to serve and invest in real estate for the imperial government,Great Real Estate Lord is regarded as the only successful gentleman。Most of the businessmen engaged in trade are being released or freelancers,Due to low origin,It is often looked down on,Political status is very low。Even if they want to be the lowest -level officials in the Roman Empire Government,It's very difficult。Ship merchants engaged in luxury shipping such as silk,Also bear the heavy exploitation of the Roman Empire,If you transport food for the imperial government,or have to give priority to the official。Although the Roman Empire paid freight for gold and grain,and give the ship owner some privileges and land,but,Price increase in the 3rd century,The cost given by the government cannot even compensate for the cost of repairing ship repair。This makes the ship dealers engaged in ocean luxury trade unprofitable。Silk trade has huge risks,Under the wanton peel of the Roman government,There are not many merchants who are willing to engage in this trade。

Compared with the dilemma of silk traders,The situation of ordinary silk weaving workers is not good。early 4th century,Roman Emperor Dickley promulgated the price limit law first,Regulations: ordinary Bet365 lotto review silk weaving textiles contain 50%of silk fabrics,or textile without patterns,The daily salary is 25 silver coins; the whole silk product of the textile diamond pattern,Daily salary is 40 silver coins or 60 silver coins。At that time,1 catties of wheat sells for about 6 silver coins,Add other living expenditures,Ordinary silk weaving workers' daily salary is only enough to maintain one minimum living consumption。Look at the salary of the craftsman at that time,Stonemith、Carpenter、Limin -burned lime、The salary of the bakery is 50 silver coins per day,It is 2 times the ordinary silk weaving worker。Wages and cleaners of ordinary silk weaving workers、佃、The salary of driving the donkey is equal,Only slightly higher than the shepherd (20 silver coins per day)。Visible,Weaving wages at a lower level among the craftsmanship,Its living standard is naturally at bet365 live casino games the lower level of society。Therefore,Except Alexander on the Silk Trade Channel、Tyro、Anto、Susteos and other major ports and cities in Selisia have a certain number of silk weaving workers,Few people are willing to engage in this line。

In short,In the Eurasian silk trading system,Romans against silkworms、The understanding of silk and silk roads is clear。Silk in Roman society is a special luxury product with strong political attributes,In politics、Economic and social fashion,Rome needs to import a lot of silk。Roman economic structure is dominated by small farmers economy,Industry and commerce does not occupy an advantageous position。Silk trade as part of industry and commerce components,It will not constitute a substantial impact on the Roman economy。The income of the silk trader is unstable,Social status is not high,The income and status of silk weaving workers are in bet365 live casino games the lower level of society。This makes silk trade and silk textiles belong to the non -mainstream industry engaged in the lower levels of Roman society。

  (This article is the National Social Science Foundation Project "4-6th Century Eurasian Silk Road Trade、Research on Relations of Intermediary Nations and China "(15BSS005) phased results)

(Author Unit: School of Social Development, Nanjing Normal University)

Editor in charge: Wang Ning
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