The overseas caravans have reached the new domains of the noble Roman families. The merchants set up their tents and offer lucrative contracts. As before, you’ll create your domains from the pieces of the Roman Empire, sharing them with other players. However, a new type of buildings, additional plots of land and contracts that you can receive for placing trade tents on your land plots are added to the game. Each round, you'll decide which contracts you keep in hopes of earning more victory points, and which ones you use in the trade auction to purchase double land plots, new buildings, or other bonuses.
Lotta Rome. The Merchants is an expansion to Lotta Rome that adds depth to the gameplay, increases the interaction between players, and opens up new strategies.
—description from the publisher