About 90 per cent of the people of the Roman world lived by farming. The Romans understood the need to rotate crops. In fertile valleys north and south of Rome, farmers grew such grains as wheat, rye, and barley. Romans created their surplus with grapes and olives. Olives or olive oils were in great demand because people used it from flavoring to oil in lamps. They left half of every field unplanted each year so the soil would be enriched for a crop the next year. Few small landowners could afford that practice. On hillsides and in less fertile soil, they planted olive groves, vineyards, grazed sheep, and goats. Roman farmers also raised pigs, cattle, and poultr

The first Romans were shepherds and farmers. In early Rome, farmers who worked their own land formed the backbone of the Roman army. They planted their crops in spring and harvested them in fall. During the summer, they fought in the army. In addition to farmers and soldiers, there were miners, persons in charge of trade, architects/engineers, glassmakers, cloth makers, pottery makers, and jewelry makers.

Under the Roman Republic, the army was made up only of citizens who owned land. The Romans felt that property owners had a greater stake in the republic than did landless people and would therefore defend it better. As Rome began to fight wars overseas, it required more soldiers, and they had to serve for longer periods. The government abolished the property requirement in 107 B.C. and opened the army to volunteers. The army then offered a long-term career for many Romans. In time, more and more soldiers were recruited from the provinces. By about 20 B.C., some 300,000 men served in the Roman army. The number of soldiers changed little thereafter. Most soldiers were professionals, whose training and discipline made the Roman army one of the greatest fighting forces in history. Roman soldiers did not only fight, they also built roads, aqueducts, walls, and tunnels. After Rome reached its greatest size, the army's main task was to defend the empire's frontiers. Many troops were thus stationed along the Rhine and Danube rivers. Other important army posts stood in Egypt, Syria, and Britain.

Roman citizenship was eventually granted to most peoples of the empire. Citizenship meant protection under Roman law. The privilege of citizenship promoted loyalty to the empire and gave peoples of all classes and all regions a greater stake in its success.

In 451-450 BC, the Twelve Tables was published. These laws were and stating the punishment if those laws were broken. The procedure in civil law, were private individuals were suing and being sued, was uncommon. First, there was a preliminary hearing. A praetor determined the dispute and appointed a judge (only after both sides agreed on this judge). The judge then decided on the outcome of the hearing. A body of legal advisors would support that judge on the laws.

Some topics in this essay:
Class Stratification, Gaul Spain, Twelve Tables, Agriculture Occupation, Roman Republic, Life Rome, Trade Rome, AD Houses, Specialization Romans, Britain Mining, roman army, oil lamps, class stratification, distance trade, roman world, rome farmers, vines planted, town county, fight wars, occupation specialization,