The Dynamics of the Trade Between the Indigenous from the Settlements of the Siret Valley and the Hellenistic and the Roman World (IV-th Century BC – I-st Century AD) Cover Image

Dinamica schimburilor comerciale ale autohtonilor din aşezările de pe Valea Siretului cu lumea elenistică şi romană (sec. IV a. Chr. – I p. Chr.)
The Dynamics of the Trade Between the Indigenous from the Settlements of the Siret Valley and the Hellenistic and the Roman World (IV-th Century BC – I-st Century AD)

Author(s): Paul Ciobotaru
Subject(s): History
Published by: Muzeul de Istorie „Paul Păltănea” Galaţi
Keywords: amphorae; imports; fine ceramics; Romans; Greeks; Poiana; Piroboridava; Siret Valley; trade relations

Summary/Abstract: During the Antiquity, the indigenous people from the settlements of the Siret Valley were involved in trade, at the beginning with the Hellenistic work and, later on, with the Roman world. The most representative civilization that was a direct trade partner for the Gets living in the Siret Valley was the Greek one. The area our study focuses on is the Siret Valley, starting from its mouths, where the Siret flows into the Danube and where the settlement from Bărboşi was established, and, towards North, until Brad. Although not being the only place favourable to a commercial route, nevertheless, the Siret Valley was the main trade way, having two major branches, corresponding to the contributors of the Siret river and leading to two passes towards Transylvania. This commercial route influenced and favoured the social, political and economic development of the settlements from this area and also of those from the nearby territories. The Gets imported from the Hellenistic world wine, olive oil, resins, pigments etc; they exported grains, animal skins, honey etc. Moreover, in the local markets, fine Hellenistic and Roman pottery, flambeaux, glass and bronze items were traded. Along with the intensification of the commercial relations, the big Getic settlements from the Siret Valley became real emporia where imported items were brought and from where these items were distributed towards the small settlements around. Some of them even became centers specialized in trading particular goods. The rich imported material discovered in the great davae on the Siret river testifies of an economic life rapidly developing. This evolution was due mainly to their strategical position on the main commercial route from the Eastern Carpathian area, namely the Siret Valley.

  • Issue Year: XXXIII/2015
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 241-308
  • Page Count: 68
  • Language: Romanian