So last night I was walking back to base with a couple of buddies, and we started talking history. One friend made a statement I disagree with, but seeing as how the other friend, who majored in history, also sided with him, I told them I would put it online in an educated place to get an educated debate going.
This statement was: The destruction of Pompeii was the beginning of the collapse of the Roman economy.
My thoughts were that this was wrong. My view was once the Roman expenditure's main focus was funding the army, the only way for it to continue growing would be to either have a constant input of gold or silver, from either mining or plundering. Trajan still was to take power, and plunder Dacia and all of its wealth, and that wealth was to power the Roman economy for years to come.
His argument was that Pompeii was one of two ports, for both export and import, for Rome, the other being Ostia. Since Rome had lost one of it's two main ports, Ostia couldn't handle the new flow of traffic, and that trade was lost.
Please, give me your opinions and angles on this argument.
I am the Carthaginian who became an angel, and surrendered his wings for a life on the sea of battle.
My magic screen is constantly bombarded with nubile young things eager to please these old eyes. This truly is a wonderful period in which to exist! - Terikel the Deflowerer
This statement was: The destruction of Pompeii was the beginning of the collapse of the Roman economy.
My thoughts were that this was wrong. My view was once the Roman expenditure's main focus was funding the army, the only way for it to continue growing would be to either have a constant input of gold or silver, from either mining or plundering. Trajan still was to take power, and plunder Dacia and all of its wealth, and that wealth was to power the Roman economy for years to come.
His argument was that Pompeii was one of two ports, for both export and import, for Rome, the other being Ostia. Since Rome had lost one of it's two main ports, Ostia couldn't handle the new flow of traffic, and that trade was lost.
Please, give me your opinions and angles on this argument.
My magic screen is constantly bombarded with nubile young things eager to please these old eyes. This truly is a wonderful period in which to exist! - Terikel the Deflowerer