Part 4/10:
Amidst this chaos, survival becomes paramount. The food supply in Rome during this era is in crisis; agriculture has been devastated by war and mismanagement, leading to widespread malnutrition, particularly among the lower classes. The diner is faced with an array of unappealing food options that hang in the balance between quantity and quality. Fresh fruits and vegetables, such as greens and figs, are available, but meats are scarce and exorbitantly priced due to both inflation and disrupted trade routes.