What were the key features of trade and urbanization during Roman times?

Answer 1

The Romans encouraged private enterprise and trade. Their taxation regime was mild and did not discourage traders. They built infrastructure to facilitate trade: road, bridges and ports. In Egypt, the best agricultural area of empire, they privatised agricultural land and restored despaired irrigation canals. An enterpreneurial class in Rome invested in shipping and mining. The empire acted as a common market and the Roman coins as a common currency. Urbanisation in the eastern part of the Mediterranean had already occurred before the Roman took it over. the thriving trading networks around the empire fostered urbanisation throughout the empire.