Posted on 04/12/2025 2:01:59 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
By modern standards, taxes were low in ancient Rome. But that didn't mean they were easy to pay...
0:00 Introduction
0:34 City-state taxes
1:11 The Roman Republic
1:56 The imperial tax system c3:17 Roman Egypt
4:00 Customs duties and tariffs
4:25 Agent.ai
5:04 Diocletian's reforms
5:32 Tax rates
5:57 Trouble paying
6:29 A regressive regime
7:02 It's good to be rich Why most Romans didn't pay Taxes | 8:47
toldinstone | 560K subscribers | 27,759 views | April 11, 2025
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
--> YouTube-Generated Transcript <-- · Introduction 0:10 · By modern standards, the Roman Empire offered few benefits to its citizens. Although the inhabitants 0:15 · of Rome enjoyed subsidized grain and free baths, the rest of the empire received little more than 0:21 · the protections offered by Roman law and the legions. The taxes charged for these basic 0:26 · services were relatively low. That they were low, however, did not make them easy to pay. · City-state taxes 0:34 · At first, the Roman tax system was little different from that of a Greek polis, where 0:39 · citizens typically had few financial obligations. In Sparta, for example, citizens were required 0:46 · only to supply the public mess halls. Lower- and middle-income Athenians, likewise, paid no taxes. 0:54 · Wealthy citizens, however, were responsible for the public programs known as liturgies, 0:59 · which ranged from training theatrical choruses to outfitting triremes. 1:05 · The rich also paid a special tax to support the troops in times of war. · The Roman Republic 1:11 · The early Roman Republic periodically levied a property tax on citizens to pay military expenses. 1:18 · Otherwise, it derived most of its revenue from the sale and rent of 1:22 · public lands and from indirect taxes, such as the 5% duty on freed slaves. 1:30 · The vast influx of wealth brought by the conquest of the Hellenistic kingdoms 1:34 · allowed the Republic to end direct taxation of Roman citizens throughout Italy. In the 1:40 · newly conquered provinces, however, land and poll taxes were instituted. 1:46 · These were often collected by the private contractors known as publicani, 1:50 · who tended to maximize their profits at the provincials’ expense. · The imperial tax system 1:56 · To stem these abuses and support his new standing army, Augustus reformed the tax 2:01 · system. The publicani were restricted to customs duties, and the elites of provincial cities were 2:07 · made responsible for collecting the taxes of their fellow-citizens. Among other new taxes, 2:13 · a duty of 4% was imposed on the sale of slaves, and another of 5% on inheritances. 2:21 · Recurring censuses were established in the provinces to keep the tax rolls updated. 2:27 · Augustus made no attempt, however, to impose uniformity. Since the Romans 2:32 · tended to keep existing tax systems in place when they annexed a territory, 2:37 · they differed from province to province, and even from city to city. In return 2:41 · for exceptional loyalty or services, some communities were granted freedom from taxation. 2:48 · Taxes could be paid in cash, in kind, or both, depending on local custom and the state’s needs. 2:55 · Cyrene paid in silphium, a plant prized as an aphrodisiac; the Frisians paid in ox-hides. 3:03 · According to one ancient author, land taxes ranged from one-seventh to one-fifth of the crop, 3:10 · and could be tariffed by property type, with fertile farmland charged most and pasture least. · Roman Egypt 3:17 · The most relentlessly taxed province was Egypt. Between the ages of 14 and 60, 3:25 · all male Egyptians had to pay a poll tax. Even the dead were charged for the year of their demise. 3:32 · Farmers had to surrender a portion of their grain, and were taxed separately 3:36 · for other crops and every variety of domestic animal. Tradesmen were taxed on their wares. 3:43 · Additional taxes were levied to maintain canals and levees, to entertain officials, 3:48 · and to supply temples. During the reign of Marcus Aurelius, more than forty different taxes, rents, 3:54 · and fees were collected in the modest Egyptian town of Karanis. 3:59 · To further complicate matters, provincial cities collected taxes of their own, · Customs duties and tariffs 4:04 · primarily in the form of customs duties. Rates on inter-provincial trade were usually between 4:11 · 2 and 5 percent. Tariffs on goods from outside the empire, by contrast, were as high as 25%. 4:20 · [ad text redacted] · Diocletian's reforms 5:04 · In the wake of the financial crises of the third century, 5:07 · Diocletian overhauled the Roman tax system. The land and poll taxes were now assessed by 5:13 · standard units of area and population, on a rate determined by the annual needs of the state. 5:19 · The practice of taking censuses was revived to keep assessments updated. 5:25 · To circumvent the persistent problem of inflation, most taxes were levied in kind. · Tax rates 5:32 · According to a recent estimate, the Roman tax rate was something like 5% of the empire’s GDP – a 5:38 · level comparable to that of eighteenth-century France. Virtually all modern states derive a 5:44 · much higher percentage of their revenue from taxes, and levy taxes at rates that would have 5:49 · horrified the Romans. The Romans, however, had a much harder time paying their taxes than we do. · Trouble paying 5:57 · Most Romans were farmers, living close to the subsistence level. In an average year, they 6:03 · produced enough to feed their families and a small surplus for taxes and other expenses. In a bad 6:09 · year, there would be a smaller surplus, or none at all. Although tax systems in some parts of the 6:15 · empire – notably Egypt – took account of droughts and floods, and emperors sometimes remitted the 6:22 · taxes of areas affected by natural disasters, tax collectors were never known for their compassion. 6:28 · Even in a good year, the tax burden was regressive. The same rates were · A regressive regime 6:33 · applied to rich and poor, falling with crushing weight on those with the least 6:38 · to spare. Tax collectors and financial officials were almost universally corrupt, 6:44 · demanding bribes or inflated payments that could double the amount due. The poor, 6:50 · lacking influential allies or the resources to resist these demands, 6:54 · had no choice but to pay. In Egypt, families often fled into the desert to escape. · It's good to be rich 7:02 · The taxes paid by the rich, by contrast, were modest in relation to their means. 7:08 · At a time when the imperial peace afforded opportunities for unprecedented prosperity, 7:12 · local elites became wealthier than ever before. In many places, spurred by a combination of 7:19 · political savvy and noblesse oblige, they poured their wealth into public buildings. 7:24 · The monumental cityscapes they created, from Londinium to Ephesus, are the most 7:29 · durable legacy of the inefficient, inequitable, inescapable tax system of the Roman Empire. 7:37 · You know what else is inescapable? Plugs for my upcoming trips to Italy 7:41 · and Eastern Turkey. Sign up now, before it’s too late! It’s never too late, fortunately, 7:47 · to join the Toldinstone Patreon, where you’ll find a bouquet of historical delights. 7:53 · Still more delights are in store for the intrepid few who can summon the will to check out my other 7:58 · channels, Toldinstone Footnotes and Scenic Routes to the Past. Thanks for watching.
That kind of system of public/private tax collection lasted in various iterations for 2000 years. The Ottoman Empire had basically the same system, but you can easily see how it can be corrupted or fall apart. The collector in town A says to the shepherd “you have 100 sheep you owe $100” and the shepherd says “well I don’t have it. Plus 8 of them are lame and 6 of them will get eaten so how about I just give you $84”. Ok deal. He takes the $84. He steals $10. Then he gives the $74 to his regional manager, who also steals $10. That guy gives his $64 to the courier who steals $10. The courier gives the $54 to the administration office where they steal another $10. The remaining $44 goes to the treasury where they steal $10 and report to the sultan $34 deposited to the treasury. He’s happy because he’s got a lot of $34 bags. Then the British show up with rifles and armor while they are still riding horses with swords and lose WW1.
They didn’t render unto Caesar.
When I was an intern at Duke University Medical Center, I made $200 a month. Out of that I paid $5 income tax. I didn't mind.
BTW my wife, a student at Chapel Hill, and I lived on the remaining $190/month. It was a tight squeeze, but we managed.
This is one big reason I am strongly opposed to the cancellation of student loan debts. There is no just reason for me to be forced to pay off someone else's college debts when I did not go into debt myself.
Emperor Trumpus Maximus eliminated the taxes on tips and overtime.
Theres no moral claim that can support society paying for others personal debts. They entered into contracts voluntarily, as did we, and we paid off our debts. No one forced them into these contracts.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said that we should take care of the widow, the orphan, the lame, etc.
Some interpret that to mean that those who choose to follow Jesus should do that.
Some interpret it to mean that the government should force everyone to obey Jesus ... in this instance...but not in other situations of the teachings of Jesus.
We are so like them with huge swathes of folk not paying a dang thing yet getting bunnies.
Well, y’know, bunnies have a high birthrate, we have to do something with ‘em.
50% of the Roman population were slaves.
Yup, kinda glosses over the fact that the Roman Empire was built on slavery.
JEEZZ
BENNIES!!
Effin spellcheck
When am I getting my bunnies? It’s almost Easter. I want a free bunny. I missed out on free Obamaphone, didn’t get Bidens free crack pipe, by golly it’s time I get in on the good stuff.
Taxes are not charitable giving. It is forced confiscation.
Government isnt charity and was never established to be.
LOL!
You had me at bunnies.
Varus was diligent about collecting taxes in Germany. Sadly, it cost him three legions.
Yeah, I know...I am waiting on my Easter tax chicks..
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