The distribution of free or subsidized bread is one of the most ubiquitous modern conceptions of Roman society. The program of grain distribution, also known as the dole, was proposed by populist figures as an attempt to aid rural farmers migrating to Rome. This influx was caused by the growth of large wealthy estates known as latifundia, and other political and economic changes within the empire. Despite leaving many of the urban poor unserved due to the requirement of citizenship, the dole did provide many benefits besides the grain itself to a variety of groups. This paper examines and catalogs many benefits that the dole provided through the investment, infrastructure, and legislation required to facilitate the program. Archeological evidence from Rome’s port city of Ostia indicates a large amount of imperial investment in urban growth and the construction of grain warehouses known as horrea in the city. This evidence in conjunction with legal records of Ostia’s relationship with the capitol, provide a more complete image of the dole and how it affected the lives of Roman citizens and residents.
