\paperw4095 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \pard\tx20100\ATXts240\ATXbrdr0 \f1 \fs22 Toward the end of the Republican era and in the Imperial one, specialized farms were s
et up on which deer, wild boar, and hares were raised in special enclosures. In addition there were aviaries with pheasants, flamingos, peacocks, cranes, partridges, and thrushes. Highly specialized labor was required by the farms that raised dormice and
snails, for which the Romans had a weakness, and dogs, which were used for hunting, guarding, or herding sheep. Beekeeping was of great importance for the production of wax and honey, the only sweetener known to the ancient world. From the end of the se
cond century BC onward, fish of all kinds were raised. This was an extremely expensive activity, and its products were reserved for the tables of the most well-to-do classes.\par
