Final answer:
Marketplaces in Pompeii and Herculaneum were at the core of their urban life, surrounding the forum and hosting a variety of shops and administrative spaces. They served not only as centers for buying and selling goods but also housed cashiers of the imperial treasury and other officials. The Markets of Trajan exemplify the integrated commercial spaces in Roman cities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marketplaces like those in Pompeii and Herculaneum were integral to the cities' function as centers of commerce and social life. These markets often surrounded the forum, which was the civic, religious, and economic heart of a Roman city. In Pompeii, the forum was a bustling place where major temples, official buildings, and markets were located. The markets themselves were places where goods were bought and sold, hosting various tabernae (shops) and providing a space for merchants and customers to engage in trade. The engagement in mercantile activities was reflected in the architectural layout of cities such as Pompeii. The shops and offices displaced by construction projects like those of Emperor Trajan would often be relocated to market areas. At the forum level, the offices would likely be occupied by cashiers of the imperial treasury, while upper levels could be used by officials associated with the grain dole. Structures like the Markets of Trajan highlight the multi-level commercial complex typical of Roman marketplaces. In Pompeii, archaeological findings continually add to our understanding of how these spaces were used, including the appearance of shops, foods that were sold, and the way these areas facilitated the daily lives of the city's inhabitants before the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius.