The commerce of the Roman Empire was a major sector of the
economy during the early
Republic and throughout most of the
imperial period. Fashions and trends in
historiography and in popular culture have tended to neglect the economic basis of the empire in favor of the
lingua franca of
Latin and the exploits of the
Roman legions. The language and the legions were supported by trade while being at the same time part of its backbone. Romans were businessmen and the longevity of their empire was due to their commercial
trade.