Daily life in Ancient Rome

1. Law and order

1.1. 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. Some streets were so dangerous that they were closed at night. But what the Emporer thought was right that was what happened. Romans tried to protect themselves against crime. Rich men tried to hide their wealth by wearing old clothes when they traveled at night so they wouldn't get robbed.

2. Religion

2.1. Religon was very important to the Romans. Romans wanted to make their gods happy because they believed that the gods controlled their daily lives. When someone was sick or injured, Romans would leave a small offering at a temple in the shape of the hurt part of the body. I think that is an odd thing to do because if someone got hurt the gods should know what to fix and they don't need people to remind them. Festivals and holidays, or “holy days” were held through the year to honor the gods. Also in every house in Rome there was a place where the people in the family could pray.

3. Family Life

3.1. Roman men were expected to provide for the family. In richer families, husbands often held well-paid political positions. In poor families, both husbands and wives had to work in order to feed and care for themselves and their children. I would not like to be someone who is poor in Rome because that would stink to have to have your wife work all of the time to provide your family. If the wife had a baby and the father didn't apporve the baby he would leave it outside to die. Boys betwwen the age of 14 and 18 they would be considered a man. But girls would become women between the ages of 12 and 18. If a boy and girl got married it would most likely happen in the temple.

4. Country

4.1. Wealthy Romans often owned country estates with large homes, called villas. A villa was a place for Romans to invest their money in raising crops and livestock. And it was a pleasant place to relax in the summer’s heat. When they went to the country, wealthy estate owners checked up on how their farms were being managed. But they had plenty of time left over for reading and writing, as well as for hunting, picnicking, and taking long walks in the fresh air.

5. Recreation

5.1. Both rich and poor often relaxed at Rome’s public baths. There they could bathe, swim, exercise, and enjoy a steam bath or a massage. The baths also had gardens, libraries, shops, and art galleries. It was almost like a very nice spa. Romans watched gladiators fight in large public arenas, like the Colosseum. Both men and women were gladiators. Usually, they were slaves or prisoners of war, although some won or bought their freedom in time. The crowd shouted as the gladiators fought each other and wild animals to the death. That would be a bad way to die.

6. Daily life in Ancient Rome

6.1. Nearly one million people lived in the empires capital city. Rome was full of beautiful temples, stately palaces, and flowering gardens. But most of its people lived in tiny apartments crammed into narrow, dirty streets. I don't know if i would want to live there if there if I was crammed because it would be tough to live. People and goods flowed into Rome from the four corners of the empire.

7. Food and Drink

7.1. What Romans cooked and ate depended on whether they were rich or poor. Only the rich had kitchens in their homes. The poor cooked on small grills and depended on fast-food places called thermopolia. Another reason why I would want to be rich you get to eat better food and you have a kitchen. For breakfast, Romans usually ate a piece of bread and a bowl of beans or porridge. Lunch might include a small bit of cheese and bread, and perhaps some olives or celery. For dinner, poor Romans might have chunks of fish along with some asparagus and a fig for dessert. Wealthy Romans ate more elaborate dinners. Besides the main part of the meal, they had special appetizers. Some favorites were mice cooked in honey, roasted parrots stuffed with dates, salted jellyfish, and snails dipped in milk.

8. Housing

8.1. Wealthy Romans lived in grand houses, built of stone and marble. Thick walls shut out the noise and dirt of the city. many of the poor crowded into tall apartment buildings. Others lived in small apartments above the shops where they worked. Without proper kitchens, the poor cooked their meals on small portable grills, which filled the rooms with smoke. The apartments were cramped, noisy, and dirty.

9. Education

9.1. Many poor children in Rome were sent to work instead of to school. They learned trades, such as leatherworking and metalworking, to help earn money for their families. 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.