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Farming and the Countryside
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More than 90 percent of the people of the Roman Empire lived in the countryside. Many were slaves who worked on the estates of rich landowners. Some were labourers who found work wherever they could. Others were tenant farmers (they paid rent for their land). Nearly all of them were poor. The slaves had the hardest lives of all and were treated harshly.
Country life was governed by the seasons. This picture shows some autumn activities on an Italian farm.
(A) VINEYARD
Vines were grown to produce grapes for eating and making wine. Wine was made by pouring grape juice into large jars and leaving it to ferment. The harvest was in October.
(B) PLOUGHING
The fields were ploughed before wheat and barley were sown in November. Oxen were used to draw ploughs and wagons.
(C) VILLA
The villa was the centre of a large estate. There was a comfortable house for the owner and his family and a farmyard with barns, stables, and workshops.
(D) OLIVE TREES
Olives were an important crop in the Mediterranean. They were crushed to make olive oil. This was used for cooking and as fuel for oil lamps.
(E) SHEEP
Lambs in Italy were born in November so they could grow up in the mild winter.
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Previous:
Back
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Book:
The Romans
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Section:
The Romans
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Chapter:
Farming and the Countryside
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