Editing Roman Empire (section)

===Trade and commodities===
{{See also|Roman commerce|Indo-Roman trade relations|Sino-Roman relations}}

Roman provinces traded among themselves, but trade extended outside the frontiers to regions as far away as [[Ancient China|China]] and [[Gupta Empire|India]].{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|p=713}} Chinese trade was mostly conducted overland through middle men along the [[Silk Road]]; Indian trade also occurred by sea from [[Roman Egypt|Egyptian]] ports. The main [[commodity]] was grain.{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|p=710}} Also traded were olive oil, foodstuffs, ''[[garum]]'' ([[fish sauce]]), slaves, ore and manufactured metal objects, fibres and textiles, timber, [[ancient Roman pottery|pottery]], [[Roman glass|glassware]], marble, [[papyrus]], spices and ''[[materia medica]]'', ivory, pearls, and gemstones.{{Sfnp|Boardman|2000|pp=717–729}} Though most provinces could produce wine, [[Ancient Rome and wine|regional varietals]] were desirable and wine was a central trade good.<ref>{{Harvp|Bowman|Garnsey|Cameron|2005|p=404}}; {{Harvp|Boardman|2000|p=719}}.</ref>