Imperial Responses to the Food Crisis that Began under Claudius.

This article examines the imperial responses of Emperors Claudius and Nero to a prolonged food crisis and famine that affected Rome and the wider Roman Empire during their principates. Central to their response was the construction of Portus harbour, a monumental infrastructure project designed to facilitate grain imports, provide employment, and stimulate trade, thereby addressing Rome’s critical food shortages caused largely by disruptions in Egyptian grain production and droughts in the Levant. The article details the logistical complexity of supplying Rome’s large and diverse population, the economic and social impacts of the famine, and the political significance of public works like aqueducts, the Temple of Jerusalem, and Portus harbour in sustaining the city and reinforcing imperial legitimacy. The famine, beginning under Claudius and extending through Nero’s reign, gradually dissipated by around 63 CE, coinciding with the completion of Portus harbour and the stabilization of grain prices.