Industrial Output
The majority of the people of the Roman Empire lived in destitution, while the small fraction of the population that engaged in commerce was much poorer than the elite. Industrial output was minor, due to the fact that the majority poor could not pay for the products. Technological advance was severely hampered by this fact. Urbanization in the western part of the empire was also restricted by low overall population density and the poverty of the region. Low labour costs brought about by slavery may also have contributed to the lack of development in mechanical means of production.
Read more about this topic: Roman Economy
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