Ancient Rome--the heart of an empire--was fed by a vast network of ships and storehouses that brought grain from distant lands like Egypt and Africa. The Roman state orchestrated this colossal effort, called the Annona, to feed its citizens, a feat unmatched in the pre-industrial world. But behind this marvel lay a darker story—rural farmers stripped of their harvests, urban masses dependent on handouts and a system driven by political ambition. Today, we’ll explore this complex machine that kept Rome alive and ask: was the Roman government’s grain dole system helpful or harmful?