Economy and Commerce in Pompeii and Herculaneum

Vocabulary flashcards covering the economic activities, key facilities, trade practices, industries, and commercial interpretations of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Garum

A popular fermented fish sauce used as a condiment, produced by processing fish in tanks, and an important commercial product associated with Pompeii.

Dolia

Large earthenware storage containers used for holding crushed grapes during fermentation and for the storage of wine.

Follonica

A workshop in the textile industry where wool cloth was cleaned, processed, washed, bleached, and dyed.

Tabernae

Shops located throughout the towns, characterized by wide street openings, painted advertising signs on the walls, and wooden shutters closed at night.

Cauponae

Taverns or shops that sold alcohol and some food.

Thermopolia

Commercial establishments specializing in the sale of hot food prepared for immediate consumption.

Wax writing tablets

Preserved written records from the eruption that reveal Roman banking activities and transactions between government, moneylenders, auctioneers, and middlemen.

Moneylenders (Roman commerce)

Financial operators in the Roman commercial network responsible for sorting and issuing loans.

Auctioneers (Roman commerce)

Commercial agents involved in auctioning and facilitating transactions, notably the trade of slaves and property.

Middlemen (Roman commerce)

Commercial facilitators whose role was to make deals happen and provide financial backing for trade.

Producer city model

The perspective (associated with Walter) arguing that Pompeii operated as a producer city that exported textiles and wine on a large scale.

Consumer city model

The historical interpretation put forward by Willem Jongman characterizing Pompeii primarily as a consumer city rather than an export-driven manufacturing center.

Forum of Pompeii

The primary commercial, religious, and civic center of Pompeii, surrounded by key structures such as the Temple of Jupiter, the Macellum, the Basilica, and the Building of Eumachia.

baking and mill

pistrinum , contained a mill room with four basalt lava millstones and basins for kneading dough

Building of Eumachia

A prominent forum structure dedicated to Concordia Augusta, associated with the wool and textile trade as well as public benefaction.

role of forum in pompei

The Forum of Pompeii was the main public centre of the city. It was the heart of political, economic, religious and social life.

Main roles of the Forum:

• Political: Government officials met and made decisions about the running of Pompeii.

• Economic: People gathered to buy and sell goods and conduct business.

• Religious: Temples were located around the Forum, where people worshipped Roman gods.

• Social: People met, communicated and participated in public events.

• Administrative: Civic buildings were used for public meetings and legal matters.