Latest / Trade Routes That Changed Human History Forever — Fexingo History
The Muziris Papyrus and the Roman Trade Tax Scandal
Episode 139 takes us back to the Muziris papyrus, but this time we're not just looking at a shipping contract—we're uncovering a tax scandal. Lucas and Luna explore how the Roman state under Augustus and his successors imposed a steep 25% tax on Indian imports at Red Sea ports like Berenike and Myos Hormos. They discuss the logistical nightmare of collecting this tax in the Eastern Desert, the role of the tax farmers (publicani), and how the burden fell on private merchants. The conversation also touches on the broader implications: how Roman taxation policies shaped trade routes…
The skinny
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