Latifundia

Latifundia

by milena klein

Latifundia (singular latifundium) were huge estates that took over much of the agricultural production of Rome by the 3rd century AD. Latifundia were owned by wealthy members of the aristocracy that would typically live in the city and leave handling of the estate to slaves and freemen overseers. Latifundia allowed for the cheap mass production of agricultural products, usually cattle, olive oil, or wine. The slaves running these estates were foreigners taken during Roman conquests. The owners of the property would only visit a few times a year, the estate used more for money making than enjoyment, unlike villas.

what are latifundia?

spread across rome

During the years of the Roman Republic, the Italian countryside was dominated by small family-owned farms that occasionally used slave labor. These farms were called villa rustica, and would produce enough to feed the immediate family.

As the Roman Empire expanded, conquered land went to the government, and peasant farmers were being called away to war for longer periods of time. Eventually, this caused a drop in the agricultural production of Rome, as well as in the ability of these small farms to survive.

Wealthy patricians and members of the aristocracy began buying off land from desperate peasants, sometimes without even paying the whole value. These nobles consolidated large amounts of land into the immense agricultural estates - latifundia.

impact on peasant farms

Small, family-owned farms simply could not compete with the agricultural giants latifundia were shaping up to be. Peasant farmers had to pay workmen and had less land, while the owners of latifundia relied on free slave labor to farm the huge estates - typically over 600 acres. The peasants, now displaced from family farms, would migrate to the cities in search of work. The overwhelming number of unemployed peasants in the cities caused new problems, including an increase in the crime rates.

SHORT TERM IMPACTS

• Throughout the first two centuries CE, latifundia were wildly effective, producing unprecedented amounts of agricultural produce.
• The shift of farming populations from the countryside to city resulted in a shift in thinking for peasant populations, believing the countryside to be superior to the city - in the country, peasants could farm and work, while in the city, most were unemployed.
• Wealthy aristocrats express concern over the prevalence of latifundia in the countryside.
• In Pliny the Elder's Natural Histoy, Pliny states that "it is the widespread domains that have been the ruin of Italy, and soon will be that of the provinces as well."

ARISTOCRATIC INVESTMENT

These latifundia, as owned by wealthy members of the aristocracy, seemed to be a method of investment and source of money. The widespread consolidation of land throughout the Italian peninsula resulted in a few landowners having control over majority of the countryside. This takeover of a traditionally peasant-held part of Roman culture is a complete reversal of previous beliefs. Agriculture and peasant farmers were previously seen as an essential part of society, with many politicians encouraging the poor to turn to agriculture. The creation of more latifundia also reflects the change in Roman values from that of the common good to more selfish and greedy beliefs.

long term impacts

After the first few centuries of agricultural success brought by the increase in latifundia, the constant farming and grazing resulted in the exhaustion of land. Sheep and cattle grazing on the land resulted in soil erosion, and eventually, the land was unable to support the previous levels of production.

The main power behind latifundia's success was the slave labor providing a cheap source of work. However, as the Roman Empire stopped its rapid growth, the number of slaves coming in slowed at huge cost to the slave-dependent agricultural industry.

The condensation of smaller farms and villas into latifundium resulted in poor farming families moving to the city in search for jobs. However, already-high unemployment and the lack of new jobs resulted in many without work. Idleness on a large scale resulted in an increase in crime and trouble.

CONTRIBUTION TO FALL OF ROME

• The fall of Rome was brought about by many factors, including but not limited to the collapsing economy, overreliance upon slaves, as well as barbarian attacks.
• The increase in agricultural production brought about by latifundia caused the land and soil used for farming to be exhausted and unable to support the growing demand. These huge estates took over land previously owned by smaller and poorer farmers than were forced into the city in a hopeless search for jobs. This caused increasing levels of discontent and crime within the city limits.
• Latifundia were run through slave labor, which caused numerous problems throughout Roman history. In the beginning, as Rome conquered new lands, the number of slaves coming into the country was steady and allowed for growth, yet as Rome stopped its rapid growth, the number of slaves decreased.
• Aside from that, slaves took a lot of effort to ship in and take care of, as well as increasing the risks for slave rebellions that were common - Spartacus, for example.
• Despite this, it is important to keep in mind that though latifundia may have contributed to the fall of Rome, it is by no means the only or even main factor.

Works cited