Women in Roman Egypt: Economic Matters : Women in Roman Egypt: Economic Matters
Basic Realities : Basic Realities Egypt’s economy and prosperity relied on the annual flooding of the Nile.
Only three areas in Egypt had arable land of any size:
1) Nile river valley proper had arable land of 10-
20 km in width
2) Delta
3) Faiyum (Coptic word for Lake) - Arsinoite
nome (1,600 sq km, fed by network of
irrigation canals, - 10% of the cultivable total)
Delta Scene : Delta Scene
Middle Egypt : Middle Egypt
Lake Moeris, Faiyum : Lake Moeris, Faiyum
Karanis, Arsinoite Nome : Karanis, Arsinoite Nome
Timeline : Timeline Spring: snow melts in Ethiopian mountains, pours billions of gallons of water into the Nile at its sources.
Surge washed down the great N-S rift-valley of the African continent, enters Egypt in early June.
Reached Memphis and Arsinoite nome 2-4 weeks later (by early July).
First month of flood: water slowly infiltrated the cultivable area, filling in hollows and marshes.
Nile Flood Timeline : Nile Flood Timeline July 20: big change, signalled by the rising of Sirius, the Dog-Star.
Water turned from greenish to reddish-brown
Level began to rise rapidly, flooded plain
Continued to rise for 2 more months
The resulting lake-like look of the valley, with villages/towns on higher ground looking like islands, drew tourists to marvel at the sight (including Roman emperors).
Flood of the Nile (Roman Mosaic) : Flood of the Nile (Roman Mosaic)
Nile Flood Timeline : Nile Flood Timeline In mid-August at Elephantine, mid-September in Arsinoite nome, the flood began to recede, first slowly, then rapidly.
By end of October the river had returned to its bed, leaving behind large quantities of sediment, a natural fertilizer rich in mineral salts and organic matter, equal to 20 tons of fertilizer per hectare. River also drowned lots of rats.
How High? : How High? With a rise of 12 cubits, Egypt faces famine.
At 13 it goes hungry still
14 cubits bring happiness
15 freedom from worry
16 delight. [1 cubit = .525 m)
The Nilometer measured the flood, stonelined wells or chambers with stairs you used to descend to the river. Incisions showed the height of the water.
Agriculture : Agriculture Farmers plowed, hoed, cultivated regularly.
Irrigation channels directed the floodwaters, initiated under Pharaohs, expanded by the Ptolemies, repaired and maintained by the populace under Roman rule.
Irrigation Devices : Irrigation Devices Archimedes screw: used especially in the Delta, to get water to go uphill.
Shaduf (called kelon, swing beam in Roman Egypt): a pole mounted to a fulcrum to operate like a seesaw, with a bucket at one end that dips into water, and a counterweight at other end to lift it when full.
Sakkieh (mechane, or wheel): a winch installed at a well head, turned by draft animals.
Slave in vineyard using Archimedes Screw : Slave in vineyard using Archimedes Screw
Shaduf in Modern Egypt : Shaduf in Modern Egypt
Sakkieh in Modern Egypt : Sakkieh in Modern Egypt
Watercolor of Sakkieh : Watercolor of Sakkieh
Agricultural Year : Agricultural Year June: harvesting of cereal crops ends, threshing continues
July: Nile enters flood stage, threshing ends
August: Full flood of Nile, the vintage begins
September: Flood peaks, begins fall. Vintage completed, dates picked.
October: Flood over. Sowing of cereal crops begins, olives gathered, date harvest at peak.
Agricultural Year : Agricultural Year November: sowing of cereals continues, cultivation begins. Olives and dates gathered.
December: cultivation continues, olives gathered.
January: Olive harvest ends. New growing season of vines and olives begins.
February: preparations for grain harvest.
March: preparations continue.
April: grain harvest begins.
May: harvesting continues, threshing begins.
Labor : Labor Slave labor played almost no part in agriculture.
Most land in all categories (royal, public [state-owned], private, temple) was cultivated under leases and subleases taken by tenant-farmers, either individually or in partnerships. Sharecropping was known but most leases indicate payment of fixed rents, in kind or money or both.
Land leases often ran for just one year.
Standard rates of interest: 1% per month on money, 50% of the quantity of a loan in kind.
Labor : Labor In addition to hiring additional help during harvesting season, farmers had to hire men to guard their fields to keep people from stealing the crops and animals from ruining/eating them.
Lots of evidence for shepherds letting their big flocks into others’ fields ‘accidently on purpose.’
Harvest : Harvest Leases from various periods in Greco-Roman Egypt point to average yields in the range of 9 - 27 times the quantity of seed planted.
The Greeks and Romans thought of Egypt as being extraordinarily fertile and productive.
Cash Crops : Cash Crops Vineyards/grapes/wine
Olives (mostly for the production of oil)
1) best grades were used for bathing, exercise, medicine
2) medium grades used for eating
3) poorest grades for lamp fuel
Date Palms
Other Crops : Other Crops Beans, garlic, lentils, peas, vetch.
Fruits: citron, peach, pear; apples, carobs, nuts, pomegranates.
Papyrus plants
Grass for domestic animals
Domestic Animals : Domestic Animals Donkey was number one for transport, camels, number 2.
Horses used mostly for cavalry mounts.
Oxen, cows, bulls for draft animals.
Sheep
Goats
Pigs
Chickens, geese (for eating), pigeons (for manure only)
Trades/Professions : Trades/Professions Brickmakers
Weavers/textile workers
Potters
Etc.
Modern Egypt: Winnowing Corn in the Faiyum : Modern Egypt: Winnowing Corn in the Faiyum
Modern Dovecote: For Manure Production : Modern Dovecote: For Manure Production
Ptolemaic Wall-painting: Woman participating in harvest : Ptolemaic Wall-painting: Woman participating in harvest
Other Economic Activities : Other Economic Activities
Portrait of Eirene : Portrait of Eirene
Woman from Roman Egypt : Woman from Roman Egypt
Greek Woman in Roman Egypt : Greek Woman in Roman Egypt
Women’s Property : Women’s Property