Roman Daily LifeRoman Daily Life

Coach ParrishCoach Parrish

OMSOMS

Chapter 9, Section 1Chapter 9, Section 1

Roman CitizensRoman Citizens

Daily life for Rome’s citizens was a constant Daily life for Rome’s citizens was a constant noisy and busy society. noisy and busy society.

The poet Martial wrote, “Before it gets light, The poet Martial wrote, “Before it gets light, we have the bakers. Then it’s the hammering we have the bakers. Then it’s the hammering of the artisans all day. There’s no peace or of the artisans all day. There’s no peace or quiet in this city.”quiet in this city.”

The Average Roman DayThe Average Roman Day

Being Counted as a CitizenBeing Counted as a Citizen

Despite overpopulated streets in Rome, citizens Despite overpopulated streets in Rome, citizens considered it an honor to be a citizen. During the considered it an honor to be a citizen. During the republic, only citizens of Rome itself were citizens.republic, only citizens of Rome itself were citizens.

Every five years, Roman men registered for the Every five years, Roman men registered for the censuscensus – official count of people living in Rome. If a – official count of people living in Rome. If a man didn’t register, he risked losing his property and man didn’t register, he risked losing his property and being sold into slavery.being sold into slavery.

Women, girls, slaves, and freed slaves were not Women, girls, slaves, and freed slaves were not counted as citizens.counted as citizens.

Example of a Roman CensusExample of a Roman Census

Citizens and CityCitizens and City

As the Roman Empire expanded, people As the Roman Empire expanded, people beyond Rome (city) gained citizenship. beyond Rome (city) gained citizenship.

Even though people in Roman provinces were Even though people in Roman provinces were gaining citizenship, the people of Rome still gaining citizenship, the people of Rome still considered themselves to be the greatest considered themselves to be the greatest Roman citizens.Roman citizens.

The Path to Roman CitizenshipThe Path to Roman Citizenship

Roman Social ClassesRoman Social Classes

Roman society was made up of a small Roman society was made up of a small number of rich people and many poor people number of rich people and many poor people and slaves. There was a huge difference and slaves. There was a huge difference between the lives of the rich and the poor.between the lives of the rich and the poor.

Most of Rome’s poor people only survived Most of Rome’s poor people only survived because of government handouts.because of government handouts.

Life of LuxuryLife of Luxury

The rich often had elegant homes in the city. The rich often had elegant homes in the city. Many other rich people enjoyed Many other rich people enjoyed villasvillas – – country estates.country estates.

The rich often had feasts where they served The rich often had feasts where they served game such as partridge or wild boar. Special game such as partridge or wild boar. Special occasions might bring flamingo or ostrich. occasions might bring flamingo or ostrich. These feasts also often had musicians or These feasts also often had musicians or dancers.dancers.

The Roman FeastThe Roman Feast

Roman VillaRoman Villa

Another Way of Life for the PoorAnother Way of Life for the Poor

Unlike the rich, the poor lived in rundown, Unlike the rich, the poor lived in rundown, poorly built apartment housing. Most didn’t poorly built apartment housing. Most didn’t have running water, toilets, or kitchens.have running water, toilets, or kitchens.

All waste had to be carried down to the street All waste had to be carried down to the street or – as often happened – dumped out of a or – as often happened – dumped out of a window.window.

Roman SanitationRoman Sanitation

Bread and CircusesBread and Circuses

The poor needed wheat to survive. When the The poor needed wheat to survive. When the harvests were bad or when grain shipments harvests were bad or when grain shipments from overseas were late, the poor often rioted.from overseas were late, the poor often rioted.

To prevent this from happening, emperors To prevent this from happening, emperors supplied free grain and provided spectacular supplied free grain and provided spectacular shows. The shows were held in circuses shows. The shows were held in circuses (arenas), which eventually became their name.(arenas), which eventually became their name.

Bread and Circuses, cont.Bread and Circuses, cont.

The circuses could often be violent. Romans The circuses could often be violent. Romans packed these events which often included packed these events which often included animals fighting each other, humans fighting animals fighting each other, humans fighting animals, or humans fighting other humans.animals, or humans fighting other humans.

Other circuses might include clowns for Other circuses might include clowns for entertainment, or public execution of entertainment, or public execution of criminals. The main events of the day were criminals. The main events of the day were between between gladiatorsgladiators – people who fought to the – people who fought to the death.death.

Gladiators Armor and WeaponsGladiators Armor and Weapons

Bread and Circuses, cont.Bread and Circuses, cont.

Before the battles, the gladiators paraded onto Before the battles, the gladiators paraded onto the floor of the arena. They would approach the floor of the arena. They would approach the emperor’s box, salute, and shout “Hail, the emperor’s box, salute, and shout “Hail, Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!”Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!”

Men who performed well might be spared with Men who performed well might be spared with a thumb’s up from the crowd.a thumb’s up from the crowd.

Gladiator BattlesGladiator Battles

Support from the GovernmentSupport from the Government

The Roman government provided family The Roman government provided family support, usually to the upper classes, in support, usually to the upper classes, in various ways. For example, under Julius various ways. For example, under Julius Caesar, fathers of 3 or more children received Caesar, fathers of 3 or more children received land.land.

Unmarried men over 20 and couples with no Unmarried men over 20 and couples with no children suffered penalties. This was designed children suffered penalties. This was designed to make sure the upper class continued their to make sure the upper class continued their family names.family names.

Roman HouseholdRoman Household

Head of household was Head of household was paterfamiliaspaterfamilias which which meant “father of the family.” The family was meant “father of the family.” The family was everyone below this rank (women, children, everyone below this rank (women, children, and slaves).and slaves).

The father owned everything in the house The father owned everything in the house (including people) and in order for a son to (including people) and in order for a son to own property or do business he had to be own property or do business he had to be emancipatedemancipated – freed. – freed.

Role of Women in SocietyRole of Women in Society

A married Roman women’s only goal was to A married Roman women’s only goal was to produce children. She was considered a produce children. She was considered a daughter in terms of the household.daughter in terms of the household.

A women’s level of freedom depended on the A women’s level of freedom depended on the husband’s wealth and status. Wealthy women husband’s wealth and status. Wealthy women had a great amount of independence.had a great amount of independence.

Some women took jobs away from the home. Some women took jobs away from the home. Some were doctors, cooks, dressmakers, or Some were doctors, cooks, dressmakers, or actors.actors.

Valentine's Day: Saint Valentine – Valentine's Day: Saint Valentine – The LegendThe Legend

The Roman Emperor Claudius II waged many difficult and unpopular The Roman Emperor Claudius II waged many difficult and unpopular campaigns. Due to the problems he had recruiting soldiers, he banned campaigns. Due to the problems he had recruiting soldiers, he banned marriages and engagements in Rome, believing single men were more marriages and engagements in Rome, believing single men were more likely to enrol for the army that married men who had family ties.likely to enrol for the army that married men who had family ties.

Saint Valentine ignored Claudius II's ban, and secretly married many Saint Valentine ignored Claudius II's ban, and secretly married many young Roman couples.young Roman couples.

Inevitably, Saint Valentine was arrested, thrown in jail, and sentenced to be Inevitably, Saint Valentine was arrested, thrown in jail, and sentenced to be put to death. Legend has it that, whilst in jail, Saint Valentine befriended put to death. Legend has it that, whilst in jail, Saint Valentine befriended his jailor, and performed the miracle of restoring the sight of the jailor's his jailor, and performed the miracle of restoring the sight of the jailor's blind daughter. Legend also has it that, on the night before his execution, blind daughter. Legend also has it that, on the night before his execution, Saint Valentine wrote a card to the jailor's daughter, and signed it "From Saint Valentine wrote a card to the jailor's daughter, and signed it "From your Valentine".your Valentine".

Read more at Suite101: Read more at Suite101: Valentine's Day: Saint Valentine – History and Legend http://www.suite101.com/content/valentines-day-saint-valentine--history-and-legend-a333730#ixzz1DJ0uOdDz

Slavery in RomeSlavery in Rome

Slavery was common in ancient Rome. Slavery was common in ancient Rome. Almost all wealthy families owned slaves. Almost all wealthy families owned slaves. Although few paid their slaves for work, they Although few paid their slaves for work, they took good care of them.took good care of them.

Household slaves were much better off than Household slaves were much better off than other slaves. Other slave jobs included other slaves. Other slave jobs included working in fields, in mines, or as gladiators. working in fields, in mines, or as gladiators. Some were eventually able to buy their Some were eventually able to buy their freedom.freedom.