Roman empire charities' credit business in principate epoch (I-II centuries)

The paper describes the business of charities of the Roman Empire in I - beginning of III centuries. There was an assistance charity to the orphans and freeborn children of the low-income parents till their legal age among charities («alimenta»). The article focuses on the activity of the incorporated foundations such as «Girls of Faustina» founded in the times of Antoninus Pius and «Mamaea's children» operated in times of Alexander Severe. The credit business of these charities in investigated and it was proved that the main source of the income had been mortgaging the land owners. Interests from loan were spent on the children support of the low-income parents. The models of the mortgages «Tabula Veleia» and «Tabula Baebianorum» were analysed.