# The Romans — The Wealth of Nations character guide

> The Romans in The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** The Romans, the Romans, Romans, their

**First appearance:** 0042-ii-of-the-discouragement-of-agriculture-in-the-ancient-state-of-europe-after-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire

## Who they are

Ancient Roman society used as historical comparison.

## In the story

### [I: Of the Produce of Land Which Always Affords Rent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-produce-of-land-which-always-affords-rent)

Referenced in the context of ancient agriculture and the value of vineyards.

### [First Sort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/first-sort)

Discussed in context of their high prices for rare birds and fishes during their greatest grandeur, and their wheat pricing policies in Sicily.

### [Book III: Of the different progress of opulence in different nations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/book-iii)

Referenced as a historical example of economic and political development.

### [II: Of the Discouragement of Agriculture in the Ancient State of Europe After the Fall of the Roman Empire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-of-the-discouragement-of-agriculture-in-the-ancient-state-of-europe-after-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire)

The Romans are referenced as having enjoyed opulence under their empire, which was lost after the barbarian invasions.

### [Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns, After the Fall of the Roman Empire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iii-of-the-rise-and-progress-of-cities-and-towns-after-the-fall-of-the-roman-empire)

Referenced as the empire whose fall led to the conditions described.

### [I: Of the Expenses of the Sovereign or Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-expenses-of-the-sovereign-or-commonwealth)

Mentioned in relation to the fall of the Roman empire and the subsequent barbarous governments of Europe.

### [I: Of the Expense of Defence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-expense-of-defence)

Mentioned for their military evolution, including paid armies after the siege of Veii and the Campus Martius exercises.

### [Of the Expense of Justice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-of-the-expense-of-justice)

Their empire's fall led to European governments founded by German and Scythian nations.

### [Article II: Of the Expense of the Institutions for the Education of Youth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/article-ii-of-the-expense-of-the-institutions-for-the-education-of-youth)

Ancient Roman republics similarly cited for maintaining martial spirit through public education in military exercises.

### [Article III: Of the Expense of the Institutions for the Instruction of People of All Ages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/article-iii-of-the-expense-of-the-institutions-for-the-instruction-of-people-of-all-ages)

Referenced in the context of the clergy's historical power and the fall of the Roman Empire.

### [II: Of the Sources of the General or Public Revenue of the Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/ii-of-the-sources-of-the-general-or-public-revenue-of-the-society)

Mentioned as having taxed salt in ancient times.

### [I: Of the Funds or Sources of Revenue Which May Peculiarly Belong to the Sovereign or Commonwealth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/i-of-the-funds-or-sources-of-revenue-which-may-peculiarly-belong-to-the-sovereign-or-commonwealth)

Mentioned in the context of ancient republics using public land rent for revenue.

### [Taxes Upon the Profit of Particular Employments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/taxes-upon-the-profit-of-particular-employments)

Implied in the reference to ancient poll-taxes on bondmen common all over Europe.

### [Appendix to Articles I and II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/appendix-to-articles-i-and-ii)

Referenced for the Vicesima Hereditatum tax on inheritances.

### [Article IV: Taxes Which, It Is Intended, Should Fall Indifferently Upon Every Different Species of Revenue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/article-iv-taxes-which-it-is-intended-should-fall-indifferently-upon-every-different-species-of-revenue)

Referenced as an example of an ancient civilization that taxed salt.

### [Of Public Debts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/chapters/iii-of-public-debts)

Cited as an example of debasing coinage after the first Punic war to pay debts with a fraction of what was owed.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters/the_romans
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_wealth_of_nations_se/characters