The Ancient cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, in 79 AD were covered by ash and pumice
from the erupting Volcano, Mount Vesuvius. The remains of the towns and a number of nearby
estates provide a myriad of archaeological evidence showing that both towns were hubs of
economic vibrancy. Some archaeological evidence includes: public and private villas and town
houses that have in them Wax tablets used as receipts from business transactions; remains of
tools that tell modern historians that houses were under repair, presumably from the 62
earthquake and graffiti within the forum that indicates where produce can be found. Pompeii and
Herculaneum are not just centres of the economy for the Campania region but industrial centres
also. Pompeii is known for its Garum (fish paste) and its wine industry.
The economic structure within the town of Pompeii is much larger and also busier than the
smaller fishing village of Herculaneum. The economies of the both towns were largely based on
agricultural production and fishing, however there were parts that focussed on the industrial side
as well as the business side. The main industry within Pompeii and Herculaneum was the Garum
industry. Pliny the Elder states that Garum was, “produced from the guts of fish and anything
else which would have been discarded, then steeped in salt. In other words, it is the fermentation
of decaying matter.” Pliny also states that the Garum industry was bringing fame to Pompeii.
Other than Pliny’s writings, there is also archaeological evidence that shows modern historians
that Pompeii was famous for its Garum and that the Garum industry was evident all around the
Mediterranean region. Other industries within Pompeii and Herculaneum were wineries and
Grape harvesting as well as olives and figs.
Within the economic structures of Pompeii and Herculaneum, The forum was the centre of
Political and Economic activities. The Pompeian Forum was a rectangular paved area 40 meters
wide and 140 metres long and was surrounded by a double colonnaded portico in white
limestone. Spread around the area were forty statues of leading citizens and the imperial family.
Due to the earthquake in 62 AD, it had to undergo repairs and restorations. The Forum was the
centre of trade and commerce in Pompeii due to the amount of markets located around the area.
For example the Macellum in the forum is where the meat and fish is sold. The markets around
the forum sold a variety of items including: clothing; perfume; meat; fish; fruit; vegetables and
bread.
According to Robert Etienne, the Population of Pompeii was “20,000 of which 8,000...and 4,200
were adults.” The population of the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum is very hard to
determine because modern historians do not know what the nuclear familia, it is debated that the
standing population of Pompeii at the time of the Eruption in 79 AD is between 8-10,000 people,
However this is unreliable because of the 800 houses so far excavated, it is unlikely that there
was that many people.
The social structure within Pompeii and Herculaneum was similar to the Main city of Rome;
however there were some differences that contributed to the economy of Pompeii and
Herculaneum. Pompeii was a Roman province but had its own government therefore it is within
understanding that they had their differences from the Capital. The main difference within the
social structure was that, as well as having the upper and lower classes, their society was split
into three main categories; Slaves; Freedmen and Free born men. This sort of social structure
helped stimulate the economy because interchanging between the three categories was allowed,
for example, a slave can be freed from the familia that own he/she and they become a freedman,
freedmen are not citizens however if they have children they become citizens of Pompeii,
therefore slaves can make a living for themselves after becoming freedmen which in turn helped
the economy.
The Ancient towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum were vibrant economic towns at the time of the
Eruption in 79 AD, Modern historians know this due the Myriad of Archaeological and Literary
sources found at the site of the cities today. Historians know that the Pompeian Garum industry
was one of the best in the Mediterranean; they know that the forum of Pompeii was a large area
of the City dedicated to selling produce and luxury items like perfume and that the forum was the
central hub of the Economy; that the large population of Pompeii and the smaller population of
Herculaneum contributed to the bustling economy as well as the work of slaves and Freedmen.
From this evidence, Historians believe that the Pompeii and Herculaneum economies were
flourishing at the time of the Eruption in August 79 AD.
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