Final answer:
The Romans decided to fight instead of trade due to their need to secure resources and military and cultural pride.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Romans decided to fight instead of trade for two main reasons:
- Securing resources and capital: The Romans sought to control natural resources and accumulate wealth from the regions they conquered. For example, their conquest of Egypt significantly expanded their grain supply, and they also enslaved people captured in conquest to contribute to the functioning of the economy.
- Military and cultural pride: Roman soldiers were citizen-soldiers who volunteered to fight for Rome in hopes of being rewarded with wealth and military glory. Winning military glory was of tremendous cultural importance to Roman citizens and political power was often acquired through military achievements.
These factors contributed to the continuous wars of expansion and the Romans' decision to prioritize conflict over trade.