ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN ROMAN PROVINCES OF WESTERN BALKAN DURING ANCIENT TIME

Abstract

The area occupied by Western Balkan has always represented an intersection of the most important roads that connected Europe, with the Far East and Asia, the Adriatic and the Aegean Sea to the Danube. Although this area was inhabited by various barbarian tribes in ancient times, full recognition and importance was gainied by pe- netration of Romans to the Western Balkans during the first century AD.

Roman’s penetration in the area constitutes primarily military conquest and subjugation of the local popula- tion, and, in a later stage of development according to the practice from the previous provinces, construction and establishment of the road network. During the first phase, roads construction aimed to enable rapid movement of military forces toward crisis spots all over Empire. In a later stage, after conquering the area and subjugation of local barbarian tribes, the already built road infrastructure has interconnected newly established towns and villages. With the development of human settlements in these areas, built roads, and primarily military road “Via Militaris” be- comes the economy leader, cultural and all other way of life newly established province “Upper Moesia” which be- came an integral part of the great Roman Empire.

Given that until arrivals of Romans there was no serious organization of production activities of local pop- ulation, due to military and economic needs of Roman empire, first forms of organized economic activities have been expressed through the construction of the road network and the development of mining in the provinces formed.