The Roman Empire was the epicenter of the world market during
their reign over much of the civilized world. So why did the
Romans fall? Much of their failure is due to there failing
economy. The Romans made many mistakes but at the same time did
make corrections but in the end their efforts were for not. The
beginning of the Roman Empire is marked by the appointment of
its first emperor Augustus Caesar. Augustus was truly a
classical school economist (if there had been a classical school
at that time. Augustus first began a currency system moving the
people from a barter economy to a more manageable money economy.
The Printing of the first coins was done in copper and to give
the currency it linked to a commodity. A head of cattle was used
as the commodity to give value to the currency and thus the coin
resembled the fact. The coin was in the shape of a cowhide
complete with four legs protruding from the corners. The
Mediteranian had been devastated by years of war and all
neighboring economies were weak and