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Daily Life of Ancient Rome

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What did the city of Rome look like?

  • Rome had about 1 million citizens in Rome and 50 million in the entire empire.
  • Roman Forum:
    • Government Buildings
    • Temples
    • Meeting Halls
    • Theaters/Stadiums
    • Monuments

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Walking the Streets of Rome

  • Streets filled with soldiers and Roman citizens
  • Police/Soldiers rarely patrolled the poor neighborhoods
  • Dangerous to be out at night
  • Rich families didn’t travel alone even during the day
  • Senators roamed the streets with their body guards

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Growth

They conquered their neighbors and forced some of their people into slavery. This led to many angry people living in the empire.

Excuse me good sir may I have your land and keep you as a slave?

Um… No, thanks. I’m good here.

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Roads

Built to quickly move the army. They helped keep peace but were a constant reminder of Roman control.

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How would you feel if you were constantly reminded that the military was all around you?

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Aqueducts

Man-made structure used to move water into towns using only the power of gravity.

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Roman Sanitation

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The Colosseum

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Provided free entertainment to all to distract them from other problems.

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Gladiators Armor and Weapons

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Bread and Circuses, cont.

  • Before the battles, the gladiators paraded onto the floor of the arena. They would approach the emperor’s box, salute, and shout “Hail, Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!”
  • Men who performed well might be spared with a thumb’s up from the crowd.

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Gladiator Battles

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Housing

Rich

Poor

  • Lived in spacious homes
    • Contained indoor Pools
    • Open atriums
    • Dining Rooms
    • Many Rooms w/ murals, mosaics, statues and fountains
    • Built with stone and marble

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  • Lived in small and dark apartments
    • Crowded, Noisy and Dirty
    • Without kitchens
    • Built with wood
    • Dangerous

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Roman Apartments

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Law and Order

  • Twelve Tables
  • Roman Constitution
  • Trial by Jury
  • “Whatever pleases the emperor is law”

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  • Most common crimes in Ancient Rome (stealing, assault, and murder)

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  • Romans believe that one law should apply to all citizens (not the case)

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Religion

  • Religion was very important to the Romans

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    • Adopted many Greek Gods

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    • Also adopted gods from other conquered cultures

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    • Viewed emperor as a god

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    • Later, Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire

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Family Life

  • “A Roman father’s word was law in his home”
  • Roman men were expected to provide for their family
  • Wealthy women ran their households (bought slaves and trained the family’s slaves)
  • Roman’s only kept healthy babies
  • Found it strange that the Egyptians raised all their children

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Family Life Cont’d

At nine days old:

Named in a special ceremony

A good luck charm (bulla) was placed around their neck Wore their bullas throughout childhood

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Roman girls became adults when they married between ages 12 and 18.

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Weddings

(bride) wore a white toga and veil

(groom) also wore a white toga with leather shoes

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Food and Drink

  • (Poor) Cooked on small grills or fast food places called “thermopolia”
  • (Rich) had a wide variety of food choices

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    • Fruits, Chicken, Geese, Snail, Rabbit, Fish, Cheese, Bread, Oatmeal-like Cereal, Olives, Celery, Parrots, Jellyfish, Beans, Vegetables etc.

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    • Milk, Wine, Water, Hot Water w/ Honey

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