Post on 13-Jan-2016
transcript
Ancient Rome
Life in Ancient Rome
Key Terms
• Gladiators• Colosseum
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
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
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)
Slavery in Rome
• 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
Slavery in Rome
• 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
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
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
Life in Rome
• 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
City Life in Rome
Roman Toilets Video
Life in Rome• Bath Houses were a
meeting place, bathing place, and socializing place
• Same gender only• Romans were very clean
people• Different types of pools• Had stores and places to eat• Poor and slaves could not
use
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
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)
Reflection
Explain why you have wanted to or not wanted to live in the Ancient Roman cities during Pax Romana.