As we discuss in Episode 6 of “Romans on the Moselle”, the arrival of the Romans to the land of the Treveri fostered the further development of their agricultural economy. The first catalyst for this was a boost to demand, initially by the Roman Army and later on by the growing city of Trier. The second catalyst was to make available new farming techniques and technologies. Since the Romans both collected taxes and paid for farm products in cash, they contributed to the further monetisation of the economy, increasing its efficiency. The Treveri landowners expanded their cultivated farmlands, hired more farm workers and specialised craftsmen with skills to manufacture and maintain tools and equipment. The resulting financial surplus allowed the landowners, even after paying their taxes, to invest in country estates that became increasingly elaborate over time.