Notes on Diocletian's Edictum de pretiis rerum venalium

Abstract

Diocletian's Edictum de pretiis is an extremely important document concerning the economy of the whole Roman Empire. Since the data from the edict were not much used for scholarly researches, the aim of this study is to point out the significance of these data, especially for Roman Dalmatia and eastern Adriatic. It is not possible to study the entire edict because of its richness and volume. The author has limited his researches to the part dealing with the maximal costs of freight (35, 1-107). After several introductory words the author gives the complete text of this part of the edict (107 lines), the translation of the conclusion and some other statistical data. The costs of each route were obviously determined by distance and the special characteristics (such as the river navigation, endolagunar navigation and similar). Various types of the cargo were differently charged. General cargo (cereals) was cheaper than cattle. The cargo of bovine and similar cattle was more expensive titan sheep or pork. There were only 11 departure points and 24 destinations. All together 29 dioceses, provinces and towns were mentioned in lite document. The diocese Orienx was mentioned most frequently (20 limes). Many very important dioceses, provinces and ports were not included in the list of routes, but the province of Dalmatia was mentioned 2 and Salona 3 times. They were mentioned only as destinations. According to the edict statistics, it might be concluded that Eastern Adriatic had good connections with other parts of Roman world. The analisys of the text shows that taxes hud logical relations, but nevertheless there are many problems which, if not separately regulated, could provoke disputes among parlies or authorities. Most likely the edict gave only main regulations and many items were left for negotiations. The edict regulated only the prices of food products (cereals and cattle). Many outstanding products were not defined, as Tor example vine, oil, pottery, glass, stone, marble, etc. Many routs were not strictly defined. It was not same to sail from enormous distant ports of dioceses of Oriens or Africa. Very probably the mentioned costs were average costs. Dalmatian ports were the terminals for goods from the hinterland as was always case through history.