Overview
To support its armies, the Roman Republic continually adapted its financial system, evolving from early forms of taxation based on bronze ingots to the more sophisticated fiscal regimes of later centuries. Bringing together fiscal and military history, François Gauthier traces the evolution of the mechanisms used to finance Rome’s most costly institution from c. 200 to 30 BCE, offering a fresh perspective on the end of the Republic and the emergence of imperial rule.
Gauthier argues that the Senate financed war reactively and through improvisation, rather than by a coherent, centralized system. As powerful generals rose in the early first century BCE and civil war fractured the Republic, control of military finances became increasingly decentralized and regionalized before the first emperor undertook a major reorganization. The book demonstrates how taxation of Roman citizens, provincial requisitions of food and materiel, plunder, and war indemnities from defeated communities all underpinned the funding of war. It also shows that Rome’s incorporation of non-Romans into its armies – troops often financed by their own communities – provided a substantial source of relatively low-cost military manpower.
How did a state with comparatively rudimentary financial institutions fund the rapid conquest of the Mediterranean? Financing War in the Roman Republic offers a compelling answer.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry Financing War in the Roman Republic, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Financing War in the Roman Republic.