Ancient Rome was the first civilization to take care of its less prosperous citizens with entitlement programs dating to 122 BC. As the origin of many modern government programs, handouts had a profound impact on the poor, helping Roman emperors win their favor. The tribune Gaius Gracchus instituted the first program, Lex Frumentaria, a law ordering Rome’s government to supply its poor citizens with portions of cheaply priced grain. Emperor August, after, chose to give the poor monthly supplies of grain. The initiative continued under Trajan, who implemented a program known as “alimenta” to help feed, clothe, and educate poor children. Other items like corn, oil, wine, bread, and pork were eventually added to the list of price-controlled goods. With the collapse of Ancient Rome in 476 CE, the Roman welfare system had lasted for nearly 600 years, but the concept of social welfare stayed. Historically significant to the development of early society, it revealed to early civilizations the need to improve the wellbeing of their deprived people. By providing financed nourishment, training, and different expenses, fewer poor people would have committed less crimes and more people in the economic class would have boosted the economy.
Ancient Roman Civilization 