Trade and Empire In Search of Organizing Concepts for the Roman Economy

The greatness of a state, and the happiness of its subjects … are commonly allowed to be inseparable with regard to commerce; and as private men receive greater security, in the possession of their trade and riches, from the power of the public, so the public becomes powerful in proportion to the opulence and extensive commerce of private men. David Hume And if our rule in measuring degrees of politeness and civilization is to be taken from hence, or from advancement of commercial arts, we shall be found to have greatly excelled any of the celebrated nations of antiquity. Adam Ferguson Whatever evils either reason or declamation have imputed to extensive empire, the power of Rome was attended with some beneficial consequences to mankind. Edward Gibbon