This book studies the growth of the city of Rome and the effects of its demands for food and migrants on the economy of Italy.

Introduction: Rome and Italy; 1. The metropolitan city in a pre-industrial economy; 2. The demographic burden; 3. A model of agricultural change; 4. The transformation of the Roman suburbium; 5. Agricultural development in central Italy; 6. Exploiting the margins; 7. Marketing and urbanisation; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.