Overview #
The Southern Markets refer to the network of traditional Roman trade centers in southern Italy (Campania and beyond) that served as the primary export destination for the House of Gaius. This region includes towns such as Nuceria and Velia.
The Commodity Trap #
During the Engine of Empire Era, Picentia's mechanized looms produced cloth at a rate that traditional Roman markets could not absorb. By early 80 AD, these markets became "saturated."
- Saturation: Every merchant from the coast to the interior was stocked with Picentian blue cloth.
- Economic Crisis: Because the Picentian Nobles had over-leveraged themselves to buy raw wool, the inability to sell finished cloth in the Southern Markets created a massive debt bubble.
Shift to the North #
The saturation of the Southern Markets was a key strategic turning point. It forced Livia and the Industrial Resistance to look toward Rome and the northern provinces, eventually leading to the construction of The Boats to reach further markets and bypass the mounting Imperial blockades.