The Roman Economy (CLS-0172)

Fall 2026 · CLS 0172 · Tufts University · 3 credits · Undergraduate

Investigation of Roman economic systems from the Republic through Late Antiquity using archaeological evidence, written sources, and paleoscientific data. Topics include economic growth and performance, technological development, urbanization, labor systems (including slavery), agricultural and manufacturing production, trade networks, state fiscal policy, monetary systems, and the impact of climate, environment and disease on economic outcomes. Examination of major scholarly debates regarding Roman economic development, including questions of market integration, capital investment, and standards of living. Analysis of primary sources (textual, material, documentary, paleoscientific) alongside theoretical frameworks to evaluate competing interpretations of Roman economic structures and their evolution. Recommendations: CLS 38.

Course codes: CLS-0172, CLS 0172, CLS0172, CLS-172, CLS 172, CLS172

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