All of these measures tended to stave off financial crises. The renowned Edictum de Maximis Pretiis was issued in 301 CE, fixing wages and establishing maximum prices, so as to prevent inflation, abusive profits, and the exploitation of buyers. About 1,000 articles were enumerated, and violation was punishable by death; severe penalties were exacted of black marketeers. But even so, this regulation of prices and wages was not enforceable, and the edict was later revoked.
