"That Rome was comparatively great and wealthy is certain"

Goldwin Smith’s statement, “That Rome was comparatively great and wealthy is certain,” affirms the remarkable position of Rome amidst other societies of its era. Smith underscores an unambiguous consensus among historians and contemporaries alike: in terms of magnitude and material riches, Rome occupied a prominent place. The word “comparatively” is particularly telling, as it draws attention to a benchmark against which Rome is assessed, likely the civilizations that preceded or coexisted with it, such as the Greek city-states, Carthaginians, or various Eastern empires. In almost every respect, military reach, economic structure, urban splendor, monumental architecture, administrative sophistication, and influence on law and language, Rome outstripped these peers.

Rome’s wealth manifested itself not only in the legendary spoils of conquest and the luxury of its aristocracy, but also in the infrastructure that knit together a sprawling empire. The presence of sprawling roads, aqueducts, public baths, forums, and amphitheaters signified the advanced level of public investment and social organization that Rome had achieved. Goldwin Smith acknowledges, too, the fact that such grandeur was not isolated to the elite; public entertainments and amenities flowed from the state or benefactors, benefiting much of the citizenry and reinforcing the city’s image as a center of abundance.

Yet the certainty of Rome’s greatness and wealth invites further reflection on the sources of this prosperity. Rome’s economic might relied upon not just internal productivity, but also the extraction of tribute, taxes, and slaves from conquered peoples. Its greatness stood not only on its own innovation but, in some sense, on its capacity to appropriate and adapt achievements from other cultures, systematizing them within a vast imperial structure. Smith’s phrasing recognizes the difficulty of contesting the evidence: whether measured by contemporary standards or those of posterity, Rome’s scale and affluence were undeniable, anchoring its legacy in Western history.