Mentalités et choix économiques des Romains

In the study of the ancient economy, and in particular the Roman economy, many investigations focused on the economic interests of different social categories: most obviously of the senatorial, equestrian, and municipal élites, but also of the status groups which were implicated in their affairs (slaves, freedmen). On the other hand, the choices and modes of thought of these economic agents, the way in which the reached their decisions, the motivations which drove them, and the role which the different groups played in realising their decisions - all these have been relatively neglected.

Nevertheless, neither the documentation nor the conceptual tools are lacking with which to approach these problems, and existing research, dedicated to modern, industrial, and pre-industrial economies, has demonstrated the considerable interest of such questions. This book is intended as a contribution to the making good of this lacuna. It derives from research and discussions conducted within the framework of the Centre Gustave Glotz (UMR 8585 Paris).