Daily Life of Ancient Rome

1. Food and Drink

1.1. Only the rich had kitchens in their homes. The poor cooked on small grills and depended on “fast-food” places called thermopolia, where people could buy hot and cold foods that were ready to eat. The main foods in ancient Rome were bread, beans, spices, a few vegetables, cheeses, and meats.

2. Housing

2.1. Wealthy Romans lived in grand houses, built of stone and marble. Thick walls shut out the noise and dirt of the city. The fanciest room was the dining room. many of the poor crowded into tall apartment buildings.

3. Education

3.1. In wealthier families, boys and girls were tutored by their fathers, or often by slaves, until they were about six years old. Then boys went off to school. Classes were held in public buildings and private homes. Many of the tutors were educated Greek slaves.

4. Recreation

4.1. Wealthy Romans had a lot of leisure, because slaves did the work. The rich enjoyed plays in theaters and musical performances in one another’s homes. Romans watched gladiators fight in large public arenas, like the Colosseum. Both men and women were gladiators.

5. Country Life

6. Daily life in Rome

6.1. Nearly one million people lived in the empire's capital city. The city’s Forum, or public gathering place, wealthy Roman women shopped for goods, accompanied by their slaves. Romans spent great sums of money on silks, perfumes, jeweled weapons, and musical instruments. But the rich were only a small part of Rome’s population.

7. Law and Order

7.1. The Romans always believed in the rule of law. The Senate continued to meet, and senators had high status in society. The fasces were symbols of the government’s right to punish lawbreakers. When carried inside the city, the ax was removed, to symbolize the right of Roman citizens to appeal a ruling against them. Roman laws were strict, but crime was common in Rome. The most frequent crimes were stealing, assault, and murder. Roman police kept an eye on wealthy neighborhoods, but rarely patrolled the poor sections of the city.

8. Religion

8.1. Romans wanted to please their gods because they believed that the gods controlled their daily lives. At Rome’s many temples and shrines, people made offerings and promises to the gods. Festivals and holidays, or “holy days,” were held throughout the year to honor the gods. But religion was also a part of daily life.

9. Family Life

9.1. Roman men were expected to provide for the family. Wealthy Roman women ran their households. They bought and trained the family’s slaves. Many had money of their own and were active in business. They bought and sold property. Roman babies were usually born at home. Between the ages of 14 and 18, a Roman boy celebrated becoming a man.