Effects of Conquest
Last Updated  11/14/2007

With conquest came wealth and this changed Rome's economy and government.  Among the changes were the replacement of small farms by large estates, the coming of slavery, a movement from farms to cities, and the decline of the Roman republic.

Agricultural Changes
The size and purpose of farms changed.

Small Farms
Small farmers believed in hard work and service to Rome.
Small farms were replaced by large estates called latifundias.
Small farms grew wheat for food.

Latifundias
Latifundias produced crops, sheep, and cattle for sale at market.
Olives and grapes were also grown on these large estates.
Rome no longer grew their own wheat.
Rome had to import wheat from Sicily and North Africa.

Reason for Change
The reason for this was Hannibal's invasion of Italy.
Hannibal's soldiers lived off the land when they were in Italy.
Roman farmers burned their fields and crops to prevent them from getting food.
After the Second Punic War, the land was ruined.
Small farmers did not have money to restore their land.
Patricians and rich business men bought the small farms.
They combined the small farms to create Latifundias.

Slavery
Rome did not enslave people they conquered.
By 146 BC, this was no longer true.
Romans were impressed by the wealth of Greece, Syria, and Carthage.
These places had slavery.
Romans sent thousands of prisoners  to Rome as slaves.
Most of the slaves lived and worked on Latifundias.

From Farm to City
Farmers who sold their land could work for the new owners or move to the city.
Almost all moved to Rome.
The farmers lived in wooden apartment buildings.
Some of the apartment buildings were six or more stories high.
Living conditions were terrible.
The aqueducts were not connected to the apartment buildings.
The sewers that carried waste away were not connected.
Buildings often caught fire or collapsed.
Diseases like typhus were common.
Most farmers could not make a living in the city.
The only industry was construction.
Most businesses were run by slaves from Greece.
Farmers could get money by selling their vote to politicians.


Decline of the Roman Republic
Rome eventually began to demand taxes and slaves from conquered areas.
Rome sold tax contracts to "publicans."
They paid the taxes ahead of time and charged the conquered people 10% interest.
Most publicans made extra money.
By 135 BC, Rome was in  trouble.
Farmers had no money.
Rich Romans got their luxuries elsewhere.
Artisnas lost business.
Government officials were busy getting rich.

Rich and Poor
The gap between the rich and poor grew greater.
The poor hated the rich for what they had done to them.
The rich hated and feared the poor.
Rome was no longer politically stable.