The Muziris Papyrus and the Roman Trade Tax Scandal

Episode 139 takes us back to the Muziris papyrus, but this time we're not just looking at a shipping contract—we're uncovering a tax scandal. Lucas and Luna explore how the Roman state under Augustus and his successors imposed a steep 25% tax on Indian imports at Red Sea ports like Berenike and Myos Hormos. They discuss the logistical nightmare of collecting this tax in the Eastern Desert, the role of the tax farmers (publicani), and how the burden fell on private merchants. The conversation also touches on the broader implications: how Roman taxation policies shaped trade routes, encouraged smuggling, and possibly contributed to the rise of Axum as a rival trade hub. Specific details include the 25% tax rate, the use of the Muziris papyrus as evidence, the port of Berenike, and the discovery of tax receipts on ostraka. This episode offers a fresh angle on Roman-Indian trade—not as a romantic story of exchange, but as a hard-nosed fiscal reality. #MuzirisPapyrus #RomanTaxation #IndianOceanTrade #Berenike #MyosHormos #PaxRomana #Augustus #Publicani #Ostraka #Axum #Smuggling #RomanEconomy #RedSea #AncientTrade #Hippalos #CheraKingdom #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo