Will your family life effect your future? Why do leaders want to keep people happy? How do they do so, and at what cost?
A Mix of People At the height of their glory, Rome had the most beautiful monuments and buildings in the world. The Roman Forum The Roman Forum
A Mix of People Wealth and goods flowed into Rome from all over the empire. Tourists and merchants flocked to the city. Narrow streets were jammed with people and carts stuck in traffic.
A Mix of People Society was made up of a few rich people, many poor people, and slaves. Wealthy had luxuries like never seen before. Most free Romans were poor and jobless surviving on handouts from the government. (The grain-fields of Sardinia led to the fall of Rome?)
Luxury The rich had elegant homes in city and country estates called villas, plenty of food in country. They became famous for overdoing amounts of food.
Luxury Wealthy Romans ate like the emperor, having large feasts, with wild game or a wild boar. Special occasions required exotic dishes like flamingo, ostrich, or ape; sometimes a snack was a dormouse baked in honey.
Luxury Feasts had entertainment with musicians, dancers, and performers reciting poems (remember the rhapsodes of Greece.)
The Poor The world of the poor was extremely different from life of wealthy. People lived in large concrete apartments with public bathrooms at the end of the hall.
The Poor Kitchens did not exist and some poor cooked on fires in the middle of the room. Many carried food upstairs, waste and trash had to be carried down or thrown from a window. Cool vocabulary: Defenestration!
The Poor Most houses were made of wood, fires were frequent and deadly. In 64 A.D. fire destroyed most of the city of Rome.
Bread and Circuses Poor needed wheat to survive, when harvests bad or shipments late, poor rioted, emperors provided wheat to poor. (The grain-fields of Sardinia led to the fall of Rome? Is this possible?)
Bread and Circuses Emperors also provided entertainment, held in Colosseum in Rome itself. Or, in other cities round arenas called Circuses were formed.
Bread and Circuses Shows could be violent, the rich and poor crowded to see: Animal fighting animal... lions and bears. Animals fighting humans Humans fighting humans Army fighting army in recreations of famous battles. Gladiators
Bread and Circuses People would watch public executions, chariot races, plays by the Greeks, Jugglers, and other amazing feats. The highlight was the gladiators, trained killers fighting to the death. Surviving as a gladiator for ten years meant freedom.
Family Life Many Romans had a strong sense of values, including family life. Writings were discovered filled with happy family life, dedication and love.
Family Life The Roman government rewarded families for having a lot of children. The father (the pater familias ) was the absolute power in house. In the early days, he owned his wife, children, slaves and furniture, and could sell his children into slavery.
Family Life Women enjoyed freedom in proportion to husband’s wealth and status. Wealthy women were extremely independent, wives of famous men became famous themselves. Wives and mothers of emperors gained political power as well.
Slavery Slavery was very common in Rome. Every wealthy family had slaves, even poor families might own one. A few slaves were paid for their work.
Slavery Household slaves of the wealthy were well taken care of, yet had no rights. The slave/master relationship varied: some trusting, used to raise children and companionship, rising to important positions in household.
Slavery Most slaves led short brutal lives. Slaves on farms worked chained together in the fields, even slept in chains. Slaves in mines lived very short lives. Gladiators risked death. Warships were powered by trained slaves.
Slavery Movement into slavery was usually by being conquered, incurring debt, or by birth. Movement out of slavery was limited. Some slaves saved tips to buy freedom. They might have special skills like chariot racers, or rarely, gladiators.