Roman Daily Life

1. Roman Daily Life

2. Roman Homes • Wealthy built large homes with two stories • Walls and floor made of marble • Marble statues and elaborate furniture • Romans moved to their villa during the hot summer weather, either the country or by the Sea • The poor lived in small houses constructed with cheap, low quality materials. They were often dark, dirty, unsanitary and sparsely furnished.

3. Roman Family Life • A Roman’s home was his most sacred sanctuary where he kept altars and gods • The Roman word familia or family means parents, children, servants and household gods • Pater means father which was the eldest or ranking male in a Roman household • Matrona or mother was also very respected and was in charge of the house

4. Roman Family Life continued • Strong values and virtues were developed in the family structure • Romans stressed three important values • “Gravitas” every task was important, no matter what size it was • “Pietas” Authority was to be obeyed whether devine or human • “Simplicitas” The ability to see and think about things clearly. You made no foolish decisions

5. Roman Food • The temperate climate provided people with all types of fruits, vegetables and grains. • People had three meals a day • Wealthy Romans had dinner parties where they and their guests ate their meal in a reclining position in the Triclinium on one of the couches or Triclinia. They rested their left elbow on a cushion and picked at their food with their fingers. Slaves passed food, wine and bowls to wash their hands in around as the people enjoyed entertainment.

6. School Days in Rome • The first schools were private and parents paid fees to send their sons to school • Girls were educated at home • They learned to read, write, and do simple arithmetic (Roman numerals were hard to use so mental arithmetic was stressed.) • Students sat on the floor or a bench and the teacher sat on a high stool. Discipline was very strict. • Children from wealthy families studied mainly Latin and Greek literature, math, music and astronomy and the art of public speaking

7. Roman Roads • Romans built the finest system of highways that man had ever known over two thousand years ago • They set up milestones and rest benches every 100 miles so travelers could rest and get a fresh horse • The Appian Way was one of Rome’s greatest highways • It was said that “all roads lead to Rome”

8. Aqueducts in Rome • As the population increased in Rome so did their desire to bathe and demand for water was high • Water was brought in from the hills from a stream by aqueducts. • Aqueducts were made by making a shallow stone channel to divert the flow of water • These aqueducts were built on huge stone arches many can still be seen in Rome and other regions of the ancient Roman Empire today

9. Circus Maximus • The most famous of all Roman racetracks. • Horseracing was a favorite sporting event • Chariots were extremely dangerous and there was a great rivalry between the teams • Few chariot drivers survived to enjoy the fortunes that could be won.

10. The Gladiators and the Amphitheater • Romans enjoyed watching people and animals fight to the death. • The amphitheater where they watched this was called the Colosseum • Gladiators were usually trained prisoners of war • Gladiators took an oath to fight with skill and die bravely if necessary • Gladiators fought to the death, if one were badly wounded the audience would decided his fate. If they cheered the loudest when the emperor put his thumb up, the loser would live, if they cheered the loudest when he put his thumb down the loser would die • Condemned prisoners were sent into the arena to face Gladiators or wild animals

11. Roman Gods and Goddesses • Romans believed in many gods and thought that each was in charge of some special part of the world around them • Romans also had special household spirits • After Rome became an empire many emperors were honored as gods. • The worship of many gods was the official religion in early Rome this is known as polytheistic

12. Roman Army • The early Roman army was made up of volunteers that were landowners who owned farms and estates and provided their own equipment. • When Rome conquered a region they tried to make it over to their way of thinking. • As Rome’s frontiers expanded and were farther from home, the soldiers had to spend more time away from home. • It became harder to recruit new men so Rome decided to let men from poorer families join and paid them and furnished their equipment • A Roman army legion consisted of 5,500 men • A legion was divided into ten cohorts led by a centurion who was a cruel, hard taskmaster • Roman soldiers were disciplined and extremely well trained.

13. Roman Painting, Sculpture, Drama and Literature • Romans used mosaics of geometric designs to decorate the floors and in public buildings • Romans loved theatrical performances like comedies, tragedies and pantomimes • Romans built many hillside theaters and included an alter to a god to remind Tomans of the religious origin • Romans loved reading and had to rely on hand-copied books as printing had not been invented.

14. Caesar, Pompey and Augustus • Pompey a once powerful general was a rival of Julius Caesar and was murdered around 45 B.C. • Julius Caesar took control of Rome and brought peace and order and he helped Rome have a strong government he was murdered in 44 B.C. by a group of noblemen from Rome • Augustus (Octavian) became the first emperor of Rome and was a wise and fair ruler, He died in 14 A.D.

15. Other Emperors of Rome • Tiberius Rome’s 2nd emperor from 14 A.D. to 37 A.D He was an efficient, but cruel emperor. Roman government deteriorated during his rule • Caligula emperor from 37 – 41 A.D. cruel,emperor who imposed unfair taxes and was thought to be a mad man. He was murdered by his own guards • Claudius expanded the Roman Empire by conquering Britain. He built hundreds of roads, temples, aqueducts and improved Rome in countless other ways. He was poisoned by his wife Agrippina and her son Nero became emperor

16. Emperors continued • Nero A cruel and extravagant emperor who misused his power. He said to have started a fire which destroyed most of Rome in A.D. 64. He is supposed to have played a lyre during the fire He blamed the fire on the Christians and had many of them put to death. After he killed himself in A.D.69 Rome was in a period of chaos.

17. Beginning of the end • In the 3rd and 4th centuries Rome began to lose her power • Many of Rome’s rulers were weak and corrupt • People were more concerned with their own comfort than serving their country • Foreign soldiers were hired to fill the army because Romans were no longer interested in serving • Rome could not defend itself when barbarians from the North attacked and took away Roman lands • In 476 A.D. the barbarians drove the last Roman emperor from the throne