Daily life in Ancient Rome

1. Food and Drinks

1.1. What Romans cooked and ate depended on whether they were rich or poor

1.2. Only the rich had kitchens in their homes

1.3. The poor cooked on small grills and depended on “fast-food” places called thermopolia

1.4. The main foods in ancient Rome were bread, beans, spices, a few vegetables, cheeses, and meats. Favorite drinks included plain water and hot water with herbs and honey

2. Housing

2.1. Wealthy Romans lived in grand houses, built of stone and marble

2.2. Beyond the atrium, there were many rooms for the family and guests. The fanciest room was the dining room

2.3. Nearby, many of the poor crowded into tall apartment buildings

2.4. The apartments were cramped, noisy, and dirty

3. Educations

3.1. Many poor children in Rome were sent to work instead of to school

3.2. In wealthier families, boys and girls were tutored by their fathers, or often by slaves, until they were about six years old

3.3. Roman boys learned Latin, Greek, math, science, literature, music, and public speaking

3.4. Girls might become dentists, real estate agents, or tutors.

4. Recreation

4.1. The rich enjoyed plays in theaters and musical performances in one another’s homes

4.2. Both rich and poor often relaxed at Rome’s public baths

4.3. Romans watched gladiators fight in large public arenas, like the Colosseum.

4.4. A favorite gathering place was the Circus Maximus, a huge racetrack with room for 200,000 spectators

5. Law and Order

5.1. The senators had high status in society

5.2. Roman laws were strict, but crime was common in Rome

5.3. Any Roman, including the poor, could accuse someone else of a crime

5.4. A jury of citizens decided the case

6. religion

6.1. Romans wanted to please there gods because they controlled their life

6.2. At Rome’s many temples and shrines, people made offerings and promises to the gods

6.3. Festivals and holidays, or “holy days,” were held throughout the year to honor the gods

6.4. the Romans came to honor their emperors as gods

7. Family Life

7.1. Family life in Rome was ruled by the paterfamilias

7.2. Between the ages of 14 and 18, a Roman boy celebrated becoming a man

7.3. Wealthy Roman women ran their households

7.4. Roman men were expected to provide for the family

8. Country Life

8.1. Wealthy Romans often owned country estates with large homes, called villas.

8.2. The empire’s farms provided much of the food for Rome and other cities

8.3. Slaves did much of the actual work of farming

8.4. Many people in the countryside were not slaves, but their lives were hard