This book offers readers a comprehensive and innovative introduction to the economy of the Roman Empire. Focusing on the principal determinants, features and consequences of Roman economic development and integrating additional web-based materials, it is designed as an up-to-date survey that is accessible to all audiences. Five main sections discuss theoretical approaches drawn from economics, labor regimes, the production of power and goods, various means of distribution from markets to predation, and the success and ultimate failure of the Roman economy. The book not only covers traditionally prominent features such as slavery, food production and monetization but also highlights the importance of previously neglected aspects such as the role of human capital, energy generation, rent-taking, logistics and human wellbeing, and convenes a group of five experts to debate the nature of Roman trade.

A Choice Outstanding Academic Title, 2013

'Students, at all levels, of the ancient Mediterranean world have much to learn from this Companion. … [the] price should encourage personal purchase and course adoption. Excellent critical bibliographies; near-comprehensive index. Summing up: highly recommended.'

Source: Choice

'… a state-of-the-art thematic survey … The overall quality is very high … [this book] offers the best available guide to the subject and will also prove useful to economic historians of other pre-industrial societies. … a very good introduction, which I have no hesitation in recommending.'

Koenraad Verboven Source: The Classical Review

'The thematic approach taken by [this] companion, and the very useful guide to further reading, makes [it] an excellent teaching resource. There is also much here for researchers of the Roman economy, with the different viewpoints and approaches taken by the numerous authors encouraging further debate on the interpretation of data, and on the issue of economic performance in the Roman world.'

Claire Holleran Source: The Journal of Roman Studies