What the empire cost
1.[1p] An aureus was 25 denarii and a denarius 4 sesterces. How many sesterces to the aureus?
An aureus was 25 denarii and a denarius 4 sesterces. How many sesterces to the aureus?
2.[3p] Nero's cut took the denarius from about 3.82 grams of silver to about 3.19. A Roman pound of 327 grams used to yield 86 coins. Roughly how many does it yield now?
Nero's cut took the denarius from about 3.82 grams of silver to about 3.19. A Roman pound of 327 grams used to yield 86 coins. Roughly how many does it yield now?
3.[3p] Why would an emperor short of money debase rather than raise the rate of tax?
Why would an emperor short of money debase rather than raise the rate of tax?
The answer is: The cost is diffuse, delayed and invisible, and needs no census or consent
The answer is: The cost is diffuse, delayed and invisible, and needs no census or consent
The answer is: The cost is diffuse, delayed and invisible, and needs no census or consent
4.[3p] Match each tax to what it fell on.
Match each tax to what it fell on.
tributum soli
tributum capitis
portoria
vicesima hereditatium
land, assessed from a census of holdings
inheritances left by Roman citizens
heads, at rates that varied by province
goods crossing province boundaries and ports
Show the answer
tributum soli: land, assessed from a census of holdings tributum capitis: heads, at rates that varied by province portoria: goods crossing province boundaries and ports vicesima hereditatium: inheritances left by Roman citizens
5.[2p] Italian land paid regular tribute like any other province.
Italian land paid regular tribute like any other province.
The answer is: False
6.[2p] Take sixty million people at a subsistence income of 250 sesterces each. What is the economy worth, in billions of sesterces?
Take sixty million people at a subsistence income of 250 sesterces each. What is the economy worth, in billions of sesterces?
7.[3p] Against that economy, what percentage is a revenue of 800 million sesterces? Give it to one decimal place.
Against that economy, what percentage is a revenue of 800 million sesterces? Give it to one decimal place.
8.[3p] What does a light tax of that kind explain about the empire?
What does a light tax of that kind explain about the empire?
The answer is: Both its durability and its complete lack of margin in an emergency
The answer is: Both its durability and its complete lack of margin in an emergency
The answer is: Both its durability and its complete lack of margin in an emergency
9.[3p] Why is Suetonius's figure of 40,000 million sesterces for Vespasian's needs not credible?
Why is Suetonius's figure of 40,000 million sesterces for Vespasian's needs not credible?
Select all that apply
The answer is: It is fifty years of the entire revenue of the empire, It is about a hundred times the largest recorded treasury reserve, Numerals are the part of an ancient text most often corrupted