An Empire Across Three Continents

Most people would likely choose to live in the towns/cities rather than the countryside due to the “urban advantage” in the Roman world:

• Food Security: Cities had public granaries and were better provisions for food storage. During famines, the countryside often suffered shortages while city dwellers were protected.
• Quality of Life: Cities offered superior amenities such as public baths, public entertainment (theatre, circuses), and better sanitation.
• Civil Rights: City life provided a higher level of freedom (“city air makes you free”) and cultural activity compared to the labor-intensive rural life.

List of Locations:

• Rivers: Rhine, Danube, Euphrates.
• Seas: Mediterranean (Mare Nostrum), Black Sea.
• Cities: Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Carthage, Antioch, Damascus.
• Provinces: Gaul, Baetica (Spain), North Africa, Egypt.

Descriptions:

• The Mediterranean Sea: It was the “heart” of the Roman Empire. The empire stretched from its north to south shores, making it a vast “internal lake” that facilitated trade and communication.
• Alexandria: A major port city in Egypt, famous for its great lighthouse and library. It was a hub for intellectual exchange and trade (especially grain).
• The Rhine & Danube: These two major rivers formed the long northern boundary of the Roman Empire, separating the civilized Roman world from the “barbarian” tribes of the north.

A Roman housewife would likely list the following staples essential for daily life in the empire:

• Wheat/Bread: The primary dietary staple, often imported from Egypt or Sicily.
• Olive Oil: Essential for cooking, lighting lamps, and bathing (used as soap).
• Wine: A standard daily beverage, often diluted with water.
• Garum: A popular fermented fish sauce used as a salty condiment.
• Papyrus: For writing letters or keeping household accounts.

Why Silver Stopped: The Roman government stopped minting silver coins because the silver mines in Spain were exhausted, leading to a shortage of the metal. The empire faced a severe crisis in maintaining the silver currency system.

New Metal: To solve this crisis, Emperor Constantine introduced a new monetary system based on Gold. He introduced the solidus, a pure gold coin weighing 4.5 grams, which became the standard currency and outlasted the Roman Empire itself.

If Rome had colonized India, the cultural and structural landscape might have shifted significantly:

• Law & Administration: India might have inherited the Roman Civil Law system earlier, emphasizing written codes and property rights similar to Western Europe.
• Architecture: Ancient Indian cities might feature Roman-style aqueducts, amphitheatres, public baths, and widespread use of concrete and arches.
• Language & Script: A Romance language (Latin-based) or Greek might have become a dominant elite language, and the Latin script could be in wider use.
• Religion: Since Christianity became the state religion of Rome in the 4th century, a Roman India might have seen widespread conversion to Christianity much earlier than the colonial era.

Several aspects of the Roman Empire appear strikingly modern compared to other ancient societies:

• Nuclear Family: Unlike many ancient societies, adult sons did not live with their fathers; the nuclear family (parents + children) was the norm.
• Status of Women: Women retained full rights to their natal family’s property and did not transfer it to their husbands. They had significant legal independence and could manage their own finances.
• Economic Infrastructure: There was a sophisticated banking network, widespread use of a single currency, and organised long-distance trade.
• Industrial Production: Factories producing olive oil and wine operated on a commercial scale (e.g., millions of amphorae found), and they utilized water-power for milling technology.