| By the end of the first century B.C., Rome ruled an | | | | more territory was added to the Roman polity. Much |
| empire that stretched from the Sahara in the south to | | | | of this land was given out to Roman colonists, but the |
| the English Channel in the north, and from the Atlantic | | | | state kept far more and leased it to individuals.The |
| to the Rhine, Danube, and Euphrates rivers. The | | | | Republic collected rent of 10 percent on grain; 5 |
| Romans accomplished what only one Greek, the great | | | | percent on vines, orchards, etc. and varying amounts |
| Alexander, could even imagine:they created one state | | | | for grazing land. These rents formed a sizable part of |
| that included virtually every center of Western | | | | the early Republic's income. To these revenues over |
| civilization. | | | | the years were added various taxes paid by subject |
| The government that engineered this accomplishment | | | | peoples.Provinces paid either a tithe on their production |
| was the Roman Republic. In a revolution in 509 B.C., | | | | or a fixed amount. |
| the last Roman king was driven from the city, and in | | | | These issues were typically settled by a senatorial |
| his place was imposed the Republic, a government | | | | commission after the conquest of an area. The |
| with popular assemblies, elected magistrates, and in | | | | government also collected harbor dues and customs |
| which a council of powerful and wealthy Romans, the | | | | duties. Moreover, particular natural resources, especially |
| Senate, dominated the state. For much of the | | | | mines, which most often had been under the control of |
| Republic's history, the Senate controlled, in particular, | | | | the previous government, were taken over by the |
| the public treasury. It authorized payments for services | | | | Roman government. The mines of Macedonia alone |
| and construction projects and saw to the collection of | | | | produced for the Roman treasury 1 to 2 million denari |
| taxes and tribute. While there is great debate over | | | | (between 166 and 330 talents) a year; and those in |
| how the Romans conquered their vast empire, one | | | | North Africa, 9 million denari (1500 talents) annually. By |
| thing is not in doubt: to meet the ever-growing financial | | | | the end of the Roman Republic, the income of the |
| needs of this expanding state, the Romans turned to | | | | state surpassed that of any previous near eastern |
| private enterprise. Like the civilizations discussed | | | | empire or Hellenistic kingdom. Indeed, as a direct result |
| previously, the wealth of the Roman state ultimately | | | | of the conquests, after 167 B.C., Roman citizens were |
| depended on control of natural resources, especially | | | | free from direct taxation. |
| land. As more peoples fell under the sway of Rome, | | | | |