The failure of Rome's economy contributed to a large extent to the fall of Rome. The Roman economy during the late Republic and early Empire was heavily based on agriculture and trade. In ancient Rome, agriculture was not only a necessity, but was idealized among social elites as a way of life. Cicero had considered agriculture the best of all Roman occupations (Sarudy). There had been much trade between the empire's provinces, and all regions of the empire were largely economically interdependent. Egypt was also important in supplying grain to Rome. Egyptian grain shipments may have amounted to 20 million modii (an ancient Roman measure) or more per year. Twenty million bushels of wheat was almost enough for half the Roman Empire. (Library) Trade in Rome is what drove the economy of the late Republic and early Empire. The complex accounting of Roman trade was conducted with counting tables and the Roman abacus. The abacus was used in counting Roman currency and calculating Roman measurements (Stephenson). The provinces of the Roman Empire exchanged huge volumes of items with each other via sea routes. Some provinces specialized in the production of certain types of goods. Examples of these goods are cereals in Egypt and North Africa, as well as wine and olive oil in Italy, Hispania and Greece. The economic policies established by the emperors had a strong impact on the lives of the citizens of Rome. The founder of the Roman Empire and its first emperor, Augustus, ruled from 27 BC to AD 14. During his reign, Augustus improved the Roman economy by bringing a large amount of money into the treasury from his conquest of Egypt. Interest rates had also fallen dramatically and businesses were able to prosper....... middle of paper ......09 October 2013. "Nero's Birthday." Bluejayblog. Np, 15 December 2012. Web. 02 December 2013. .Peden, Giuseppe. Inflation and fall of the Roman Empire. "The Ludwig Von Mises Institute." Ludwig Von Mises Institute, 7 September 2009. Web. 08 October 2013. .Sarudy, Barbara Wells. "Early American Gardens." : Classical Roman writings on gardens and farms read in 18th-century America. Np, 19 July 2013. Web. 02 December 2013Stephenson, Steve. "The abacus of the Roman hand". The Roman abacus. Np, 27 November 2003. Web. 02 December 2013. .Torney, Sean. "Domitian." Domitian. SlideShare Inc., and Web. 02 December. 2013. .