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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 7312983, member: 110226&quot;]The middle class, as we know it, did not come about until the Industrial Revolution, and even then it was by fits and starts.&nbsp; The modern middle class in the US did not really take off until after World War II.&nbsp; So, thinking about the ancient &quot;middle class&quot; is something of a misnomer, I think.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back in the times of ancient Greece and Rome there were merchants whose prosperity rose and fell with the fortunes and misfortunes of their times.&nbsp; There were also skilled tradesmen, but more often than not they were slaves.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>As far as gold is concerned I would assume that the well-to-do merchants did keep some, probably as stores of wealth and to have available for large transactions.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Also, there are references in &quot;I Claudius&quot; of gold pieces being given to members of the legions, but I believe that the possession of gold was mostly the domain of the ruling classes, including members of the Roman Senate, who mostly came from wealthy families or families connected to the emperor in one way or another.&nbsp; At least, that is my impression.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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