Domitian and the Roman economy: some notes

A comprehensive assessment of the state of the Roman economy during the reign of Emperor Domitian is difficult due to the unsatisfactory state of the sources, therefore it is necessary to proceed from the available information. In the field of finance, it allows us to conclude that the main source of state revenues were taxes, the receipt of which was under the strict control of the emperor. The tax policy of the last Flavius proved to be effective and ensured the balance of the State budget, despite the extraordinary expenses caused by wars and natural disasters. In the agricultural sector, the emperor secured his popularity among the Italian population by securing ownership of the “segments” that remained undivided after the withdrawal of the colonies to their actual owners. Domitian’s attempt to ensure an increase in grain production in Italy and the provinces by reducing urban plantations was rather advisory in nature and did not lead to significant results. In the capital of the Roman Empire, Domitian’s construction program, to which he attached great political importance, was successfully completed. Assessing the actions of the last Flavius in the field of economics, it should be concluded that he continued the economic policy of Vespasian and Titus, leaving his successors the Roman power in a state that ensured the last flourishing of ancient civilization.