1. Daily Life in the Roman Empire
Chapter 35
Daily Life in the Roman Empire

2. “All Roads Lead to Rome”
Romans had built and extensive network of Roads.
Expression became common throughout the Roman Empire.

3. Forum “gathering place”
Originally was an open air market place in the center of Rome
Over time numerous government buildings, plazas, reigious and other buildings built.

4. 35.2: Daily Life in Ancient Rome
City of great contrasts
Over 1 million people in Rome
Most people lived in tiny apartments

5. 35.2: Daily Life in Ancient Rome
Wealthy Romans
women shopped at the forum with their slaves
Wealthy Senators used body guards for protection
Silks, perfumes, jeweled weapons, and musical instruments
Homes with statues, fountains, and fine pottery

6. 35.2: Daily Life in Ancient Rome
Slaves:
Hundreds of thousands of slaves
Escorted women in the forum
Forced to fight in gladiator games
Teachers and other skilled labored
Soldiers and Craftsmen
Foreigners
Britain, Spain, Europeans, Egypt, and the rest of the empire

7. 35.2: Daily Life in Ancient Rome
City Life (Poor)
Filthy neighborhoods
Most children died by the age of 10
“Bread and Circus”
Most poor could not find jobs because slaves had taken them
Given food and entertainment free by the government such as gladiator games and chariot races

8. 35.2: Daily Life in Ancient Rome
Rural or Country Living
Most people lived in the countryside
Most of the people in the countryside were poor
Some small family farms
Some worked on huge estates owned by the rich

9. 35.3: Law and Order Rule of Law
Law applies to everyone equally at all times
The intent and spirit of the law must be maintained and applied
Bedrock founding principle of the United States

10. 35.3: Law and Order
Senate and Assemblies created most laws in the Roman Republic
Emperor was the final authority/source of law in the Roman Empire
“whatever pleases the emperor is the law”

11. 35.3: Law and Order Old time honored traditions were followed Fasces
Senate continued to meet even in the empire
Senators had many privileges because of their position
Important senators had bodyguards
Fasces
Bundles of sticks with an axe in the center
Symbol that government could use force, physical punishment, and strict enforcement of the law whenever necessary (martial law principle)

12. 35.3: Law and Order Law Enforcement and Crime Laws were strict
Crime was common
Most common: Stealing, assault, and murder
Rich neighborhoods protected
Lack of protection in the poorer parts of town
Some streets closed at night due to dangers

13. 35.3: Law and Order Protection Against Crime:
Rich wore old dirty togas when they traveled at night
Wealthy women warned not to go out alone even during the daytime

14. 35.3: Law and Order Criminal Proceedings/Trials
All citizens could bring charges against another
Jury of Roman citizens decided the case
“jury of your peers (U.S.)
family and personal appearance used to get sympathy
Dress poorly
Have children/wives cry before the jury

15. 35.3: Law and Order Rule of Law
Belief that law should apply to everyone equally
In realty, wealthy received special treatment under the law
Poor people punished more harshly including torture
Law stated torture could not be used against a Roman citizen
Law was thrown out if the poor person were convicted by a fair trial
Used to find out who accomplices were and to ease the conscience of the judges who issued the conviction
Common methods: Crucifixion, lashes,
Salves testimony could only be used if obtained by torture

16. 35.4: Religion
Adopted Greek gods and gods from other cultures to create a set of Roman gods
Names of some planets came from Roman gods:
Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars, Neptune
Believed gods controlled daily life
Offerings and promises
gifts of food, honey cakes and fruit
sacrificed animals such as bulls, sheep, and oxen
Left offering for the sick and injured sometimes in the form of the body part that was affected
Festivals and Holidays
Home altars by the family hearth or fireplace
goddess Vesta: Threw small cakes into the fire
Emperors honored as gods
Caligula: built his own statue and had it clothed the same as himself everyday
New religions accepted as long as it didn’t encourage disloyalty to the emperor:
Christians would not recognize the emperor as god

17. 35.4: Reading Notes 1. Answer the trivia question.
Romans would put a little clay foot by a statue at a temple to remind the god which part of the body needed to be healed.
2. List two key differences between ancient Rome and modern times.
(1) Romans believed in Greek gods; people today have different beliefs.
(2) Romans honored the emperors as gods; we don’t honor our leaders as gods.

18. 35.5: Family Life Paterfamilias Father of the family ruled the family
Father’s decisions/words were the law at home
Every child regardless of age or living at or away from home had to follow his orders

19. 35.5: Family Life Men Expected to provide for the family
Rich: high paying political positions
Poor: men/women both worked

20. 35.5: Family Life Households Rich women ran the household
Bought and trained slaves
Many ran businesses
Bought and sold property

21. 35.5: Family Life Babies: Born at home
Strong and healthy babies kept
Weak or babies not meeting father’s approval were left outside to die
Named in a special ceremony after 9 days and given a Bulla, or good luck charm, worn throughout childhood

22. 35.5: Family Life Boys (14-18 years old)
Ceremony between years old to end childhood:
Celebrated becoming a man by giving their bulla, toys, and clothes to the gods

23. 35.5: Family Life Girls No ceremony to end childhood
Married between ages 12-18

24. 35.5: Family Life Weddings/Marriages
Held at a temple
Bride wore white toga and long veil
Groom wore white toga and leather shoes shined with animal fat
New husband did not become the paterfamilias until his father died

25. 35.6: Food and Drink Rich had kitchens in the home
Poor used small grills in the home
Fast Food
Both rich and poor bought ready made hot/cold food from the Thermopolia
Diet
Main foods were bread, beans, spices, some vegetables and meat, cheese, honey, and wine
Breakfast: bread and bowl of beans or porridge (oatmeal)
Lunch: cheese, bread, olives, and celery
Dinner:
Poor: fish, asparagus, and figs
Rich: special appetizers, mice cooked in honey, roasted parrots stuffed with dates, slated jellyfish, and snails dipped in milk

26. 35.6: Food and Drink Roman Markets Wide variety
Playful monkeys and birds to attract customers
Fruits, live rabbits and chickens, geese, baskets of snails, various meats, and fish sauce

27. 35.7: Housing Rich: large open homes made from stone and marble
Thick walls to keep out the noise
Atrium
Inside the front door
Used to welcome guests
Small pool and opening in the ceiling kept it cool
Dining Room
Fanciest room in the house
Covered with pictures, murals, and tiled mosaics
Statues in the corners and some with fountains in the center for cool drinking water
Dinner Parties
Guests lay on couches
Dinners prepared by slaves
Music played by slaves on the flute, lyre and lute

28. 35.7: Housing Poor small dark crowded apartments made of wood
Some lived in rooms above their shops
Portable grills filled the apartments with smoke
Cramped, noisy, and dirty
Disease carrying rats spread sickness rapidly
Fire was a constant danger
64 C.E./A.D. fire burned down most of the city

29. 35.8: Education Poor : Rich:
went to work instead of school
Learned trades such as leather and metal working to support the family
Rich:
Tutored by fathers or slaves
Stopped by the breakfast bar on the way to school to buy beans, nuts, and bread to eat on the way to school
Learned Greek, Latin, math, science, literature, music, and public speaking
Girls: dentists, realtors, tutors, or midwives (nurses for childbirth)
Boys: soldiers, doctors, politicians, and lawyers
Most went to school until age 13 but some stayed until 16 then managed their own property

30. 35.9: Recreation Roman Baths Rich: Poor: Both poor and rich
Bath, swim, exercise, steam, or massage
Gardens, libraries, shops, and art galleries
Rich:
Extra leisure time (slaves worked)
Plays at the theater
Musicals in the homes
Poor:
“Bread and Circus” free public entertainment and food for the poor provided by the emperor
Chariot races and gladiator fights
Attempt to keep them busy/out of trouble (lost jobs due to high number of slaves)

31. 35.9: Recreation Gladiator Games Held at the Colosseum
Both men and women participated
Slaves or prisoners of war fought each other and wild animals to the death
Thousands died painfully for entertainment
Men and women sat in different sections

32. 35.9: Recreation Circus Maximus Favorite entertainment of the Romans
Huge racetrack held 200,000 people
Gambled on chariot races
Rich in the shade on cushions close to the track
Poor in the sun on wooden benches away from the track
Men and women sat together and it became a popular meeting place

33. 35.10: Country Life 90% lived out in the countryside Rich Poor
Large villas to invest money in crops and livestock
Came to relax during the summer months
Checked on the work, read books, wrote, hunted, picnics, and long walks
Poor
Had small family farms
Many lost their jobs as they were replaced by slaves
Soldiers lost farms when they went to war
Lived in huts and life was hard
Many moved to the city for the “Bread and Circus” provided by the emperor
Slaves treated very harshly
Large farms produced:
most of the food, for Rome and other cities
Grain for bread, grapes for wine, olives for oil
Goats and sheep for cheese and clothing
Cattle and pigs for meat
Bees for honey