古罗马的商业特征与中世纪自给自足状态的形成

中世纪自给自足状态的形成的根本原因不是日尔曼人的入侵，而是罗马自身商业的衰落。这是由罗马商业的特征所决定的。罗马的经济主体始终是农业，商业一直处于从属地位；罗马的商业是同战争密切相关的，战争的结束意味着商业的衰落；罗马在观念上一直是鄙视商业的，并在后期实行了一系列不利于商业的政策，这直接导致了商人和商业的瓦解，从而使社会进入自给自足状态。

Commercial Characteristics of Ancient Rome and Formation of Self-sufficiency in the Middle Ages

The medieval self-sufficiency was attributed not to the Germanic aggression but to the waning of commerce in Rome. The situation resulted from the commercial characteristics of Rome. First of all, the economic pillar of Rome was agriculture all the time, and commerce was always subordinate. Secondly, the commerce of Rome related closely to wars. So the end of wars means the waning of commerce. Thirdly, Rome traditionally despised commerce, and later a series of unfavorable policies w ere practiced against commerce. All this led to the disintegration of commer ce and the merchant class and the self-sufficiency in the middle ages.