Economy by Sophia K, Ayah, Omar, and Zan In almost all of the well known ancient societies they had distinct differences when it came to beliefs, however when it came to economy their ways were very similar. In China, Greece, Rome, and Egypt, they had a system of currency, trade, and jobs. All of the latter led to the prosperity and wealth of the ancient civilizations.
Trade was very important throughout many ancient civilizations such as Ancient Rome, Greece, China and Egypt. For example, China's economy depended on trade. In ancient China, they mainly traded silk with the west for gold. They traded with Rome and other places along the Silk Road. Even by the time of Confucius, they started trading cattle and wheat just like Egypt did. However, Egypt didn't just trade cattle and wheat, they also traded gold, other types of minerals, barley, and papyrus sheets. A big part of trade was the Silk Road. China and Rome both traded along the road. In order for citizens to buy their own goods in order to trade they needed money, which varied throughout the ancient civilizations.
This painted picture depicts the Chinese trade throught China and shows people trading vases for a silk cloth.
What people used for currency throughout ancient times changed a lot. Although an economy without any type of real currency is called a bartering system. In Greece, and also Rome, they used coins. Three types of Greek coins were called a drachma, an obol, and a mina. Most coins were etched with the profile of their rulers, much like we do today with our presidents. Rome also did the etching of their rulers on the coins. The Greek and Roman currency was very similar. Egypt however, used chunks of copper which were a bit coin related but not completely. Although in China, they used shells for currency rather than coins. The shell idea came from the Chou Dynasty in 400 B.C., they used the cowrie shell. In order to receive this money, you had to earn it from a job.
This is a photograph of the front and back of a Roman obol. From hundreds of years of decay, the images are not very clear. Although if you look carefully, you can see the profile of a ruler.
Jobs were very similar throughout the ancient regions however there were a few odd jobs that varied from where the ancient region was located and what their beliefs were. For instance Egypt had out of the ordinary jobs like coffin or pyramid builders. However most jobs were things that students might expect like dancers, jewelers, weavers, woodworkers, soldiers, and farmers. Farmers were a huge part of all cultures, Greece, Rome, China, and Egypt. Without farmers most of the ancient civilizations would have collapsed due to starvation, especially Rome. Rome had a huge population of 130000 citizens adding the legionaries that had to be fed. That's a lot of food, and from what archeologists have found even poor Romans ate well, and with 130000 people eating well a lot of food had to be grown and harvested. Food doesn't just grow by its self. People had to grow and harvest the food, but that scenario wasn't just in Rome, it was in China, Greece, and Egypt. In all of the latter food was a huge part of their daily life and empire.
This is a photo of a lady doing her daily job as a weaver. Weavers were very common in the ancient Chinese civilazation. They would weave from the cacoons of silk worms which were native to China.
Every single one of the ancient civilizations that we studied, all had a sort of prosperity. Each one of these countries was rich with trade which led them to wealth. As you can see, ancient countries had very similar and different economy. It all varied on the type of region and people. Without some of these economy choices, we may not live in the type of atmosphere that we are surrounded by today.
In almost all of the well known ancient societies they had distinct differences when it came to beliefs, however when it came to economy their ways were very similar. In China, Greece, Rome, and Egypt, they had a system of currency, trade, and jobs. All of the latter led to the prosperity and wealth of the ancient civilizations.
Trade was very important throughout many ancient civilizations such as Ancient Rome, Greece, China and Egypt. For example, China's economy depended on trade. In ancient China, they mainly traded silk with the west for gold. They traded with Rome and other places along the Silk Road. Even by the time of Confucius, they started trading cattle and wheat just like Egypt did. However, Egypt didn't just trade cattle and wheat, they also traded gold, other types of minerals, barley, and papyrus sheets. A big part of trade was the Silk Road. China and Rome both traded along the road. In order for citizens to buy their own goods in order to trade they needed money, which varied throughout the ancient civilizations.
What people used for currency throughout ancient times changed a lot. Although an economy without any type of real currency is called a bartering system. In Greece, and also Rome, they used coins. Three types of Greek coins were called a drachma, an obol, and a mina. Most coins were etched with the profile of their rulers, much like we do today with our presidents. Rome also did the etching of their rulers on the coins. The Greek and Roman currency was very similar. Egypt however, used chunks of copper which were a bit coin related but not completely. Although in China, they used shells for currency rather than coins. The shell idea came from the Chou Dynasty in 400 B.C., they used the cowrie shell. In order to receive this money, you had to earn it from a job.
Jobs were very similar throughout the ancient regions however there were a few odd jobs that varied from where the ancient region was located and what their beliefs were. For instance Egypt had out of the ordinary jobs like coffin or pyramid builders. However most jobs were things that students might expect like dancers, jewelers, weavers, woodworkers, soldiers, and farmers. Farmers were a huge part of all cultures, Greece, Rome, China, and Egypt. Without farmers most of the ancient civilizations would have collapsed due to starvation, especially Rome. Rome had a huge population of 130000 citizens adding the legionaries that had to be fed. That's a lot of food, and from what archeologists have found even poor Romans ate well, and with 130000 people eating well a lot of food had to be grown and harvested. Food doesn't just grow by its self. People had to grow and harvest the food, but that scenario wasn't just in Rome, it was in China, Greece, and Egypt. In all of the latter food was a huge part of their daily life and empire.
Every single one of the ancient civilizations that we studied, all had a sort of prosperity. Each one of these countries was rich with trade which led them to wealth.
As you can see, ancient countries had very similar and different economy. It all varied on the type of region and people. Without some of these economy choices, we may not live in the type of atmosphere that we are surrounded by today.
Sites:
http://ancienthistory.about.com
http://historyforkids.org
http://ancienthistory.about.com
http://ancienthistory.about.com
http://www.riverschool.org
http://www.historylink102.com
.