1. Life in Ancient Rome

2. Essential Question
What was it like to be a Roman and how does it compare to life today? Explain.

3. Warm Up
Based on this image, what do you believe life was like in Rome?

4. Roman Values Discipline Strength Loyalty
It you had all these qualities you were said to have the virtue of gravitas
Strength > beauty
Power > grace
Usefulness > elegance

5. People of Rome Most lived in the countryside and worked on farms
Merchants, soldiers, slaves, foreigners, and philosophers lived in Rome and smaller cities
Crowded, noisy streets
Diverse society

6. Slavery in Rome Widespread and important to economy
About 1/3 of population
Prisoners from conquered lands brought back by Roman armies (men, women, and children)

7. Slaves could be bought or sold
Considered property of their owners
Could be punished, rewarded, set free, or put to death as their masters saw fit

8. In city and farms
Usually treated cruelly and did hard labor all day long
Usually slaves of wealthy were treated better
Some strong, healthy male slaves forced to become gladiators, or professional fighters

9. Religion Polytheistic
Gods and Goddesses were guardian spirits of each family
Symbols of the states
People were expected to worship the gods
Closely connected to Greek gods
Worship of emperors also became part of religion

10. Life in Rome
Wealth and social status made a difference in how one lived
Rich lived extravagantly
Large homes with gardens, slaves, and luxuries
Parties for hours with foods that were rare and costly
Roman Table Manners

11. Most people barely had necessities for life
Most of city’s population was unemployed
Poor people crowded in wood tenements, or apartments
Fire was always a danger

12. City Life in Rome
Roman Toilets Video

13. City Life in Rome
Bath Houses were a meeting place, bathing place, and socializing place
Romans were very clean people
Different types of pools
Had stores and places to eat
Poor and slaves could not use

14. Entertainment Free games, races, mock battles, and gladiator contests
Provided by gov’t
To distract and control the large number of people in the city
150 holidays a year

15. Gladiators Gladiators were used as entertainment Fight animals
Stage battle re-enactments
Fight each other
Usually to the death of something, sometimes left up to the crowd
Gladiator Fights (Prisoner to Hero)

16. Answer the Essential Question
Now, using the knowledge you have learned in this lesson, attempt to answer the essential question.
What was it like to be a Roman and how does it compare to life today? Explain.