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Cities in Rome were very well planned and streets were at right angles. The Forum was used as a market place and for public speeches. Temples and other buildings were nearby. This area was always kept clean and neat. There were also many statues of important people in this area. See the picture to the right of your screen.
Cities in Rome were very well planned and streets were at right angles. The Forum was used as a market place and for public speeches. Temples and other buildings were nearby. This area was always kept clean and neat. There were also many statues of important people in this area. See the picture to the right of your screen.
The rest of the city was noisy, crowded, and dirty. People tossed garbage into the streets and criminals prowled the streets at night.
The rest of the city was noisy, crowded, and dirty. People tossed garbage into the streets and criminals prowled the streets at night.
Rich Romans lived in large, luxurious homes with fine furniture and beautiful gardens. There is also a picture on this to the right of your screen. Rich people visited the "baths" as often as possible which was relaxing and entertaining. Poor people lived in crowded apartments of one room. Some apartments were six stories high. Fire was a constant danger and some apartments even collapsed since they were poorly built.
Rich Romans lived in large, luxurious homes with fine furniture and beautiful gardens. There is also a picture on this to the right of your screen. Rich people visited the "baths" as often as possible which was relaxing and entertaining. Poor people lived in crowded apartments of one room. Some apartments were six stories high. Fire was a constant danger and some apartments even collapsed since they were poorly built.
Whether they were rich or poor, ALL Romans loved entertainment. The government provided the people with "bread and circus." This was done to keep the poor people happy and from rioting against the rich. Contests and sports they enjoyed were gladiator fights, chariot races, weight lifting, and ballgames. Paintings have been left behind of the Romans playing a game similar to soccer.
Whether they were rich or poor, ALL Romans loved entertainment. The government provided the people with "bread and circus." This was done to keep the poor people happy and from rioting against the rich. Contests and sports they enjoyed were gladiator fights, chariot races, weight lifting, and ballgames. Paintings have been left behind of the Romans playing a game similar to soccer.
Dads were the head of the house and the wives and girls did all the housework. Dads even arranged the marriages of his children. Boys of rich people were sent to school or they hired a tutor to teach him at home. Most people were poor though. Regardless of money, almost all homes had a slave. Slaves did work like building bridges, roads, and general house chores. Slaves were common and for the most part their life was miserable. They were even punished for poor work.
Dads were the head of the house and the wives and girls did all the housework. Dads even arranged the marriages of his children. Boys of rich people were sent to school or they hired a tutor to teach him at home. Most people were poor though. Regardless of money, almost all homes had a slave. Slaves did work like building bridges, roads, and general house chores. Slaves were common and for the most part their life was miserable. They were even punished for poor work.
- Clothes & Hair
The early Romans wore a toga which looked like a long white sheet wrapped in a stylish way. Togas were not always convenient so many people stopped wearing them. Instead, they wore a tunic which was basically a long t-shirt. These were much more practical. Tunics were made of linen (a light fabric) for summer and wool (a heavy fabric) for winter. Many wore a belt around the waist especially children. Men and women like to wear sandals, especially at home. Women's sandals were bright colors. Other shoes were made of leather.
The early Romans wore a toga which looked like a long white sheet wrapped in a stylish way. Togas were not always convenient so many people stopped wearing them. Instead, they wore a tunic which was basically a long t-shirt. These were much more practical. Tunics were made of linen (a light fabric) for summer and wool (a heavy fabric) for winter. Many wore a belt around the waist especially children. Men and women like to wear sandals, especially at home. Women's sandals were bright colors. Other shoes were made of leather.
Men often wore rings. Good manners would be to only wear one ring at a time, but some didn't follow this and might wear as many as 16 rings at once. Hairstyles for men varied. Sometimes they had long hair and full beards while other times they shaved facial hair and had short hairstyles.
Men often wore rings. Good manners would be to only wear one ring at a time, but some didn't follow this and might wear as many as 16 rings at once. Hairstyles for men varied. Sometimes they had long hair and full beards while other times they shaved facial hair and had short hairstyles.
Women loved jewelry like necklaces, pins, earrings, bracelets, and friendship rings. Pearls were a favorite. The women often dyed their hair, usually a golden-red. They even added fake hair pieces to make it look thicker and longer much like extensions today. Women like to wear their hair up using jeweled pins to keep it in place. They also like to wear it down curled in ringlets.
Women loved jewelry like necklaces, pins, earrings, bracelets, and friendship rings. Pearls were a favorite. The women often dyed their hair, usually a golden-red. They even added fake hair pieces to make it look thicker and longer much like extensions today. Women like to wear their hair up using jeweled pins to keep it in place. They also like to wear it down curled in ringlets.
2. Houses
2. Houses
The lower class people or poor lived in apartments. These people were also called plebeians. These apartments were called flats and were usually above or behind a store. The apartment or flat would be the home of an entire family - grandparents, parents, and kids. They were crowded into one room without running water. Instead, they had to haul water from a nearby well in buckets. The apartments often caught fire because they were made of wood and people were cooking meal in very crowded quarters. These apartments were usually six stories tall. They were often poorly built and could even collapse killing everyone inside. There was not a bathroom so people used a public toilet.
The lower class people or poor lived in apartments. These people were also called plebeians. These apartments were called flats and were usually above or behind a store. The apartment or flat would be the home of an entire family - grandparents, parents, and kids. They were crowded into one room without running water. Instead, they had to haul water from a nearby well in buckets. The apartments often caught fire because they were made of wood and people were cooking meal in very crowded quarters. These apartments were usually six stories tall. They were often poorly built and could even collapse killing everyone inside. There was not a bathroom so people used a public toilet.
The upper class or rich people lived differently. They had their own home which was roomy and spacious. These people were also called patricians. Their homes were made of brick with red tiled roofs. The house was built around a central courtyard. This courtyard was much like a beautiful garden or patio area. It was filled with many beautiful plants and flowers. The windows and balconies (or porches) of the house faced this courtyard. They did not face the street so the view was better and it kept the homes safe from thieves. This also provided them with a much quieter place to enjoy their free time or visit with friends and family. The rich people could afford pretty pictures for the walls, but didn't have much furniture or carpeting but it was still very nice. The house might include many rooms like: bedrooms, kitchen, office, dining room, temple, and private bath. Aqueducts brought fresh water underground to these houses. Only the rich people could afford this.
The upper class or rich people lived differently. They had their own home which was roomy and spacious. These people were also called patricians. Their homes were made of brick with red tiled roofs. The house was built around a central courtyard. This courtyard was much like a beautiful garden or patio area. It was filled with many beautiful plants and flowers. The windows and balconies (or porches) of the house faced this courtyard. They did not face the street so the view was better and it kept the homes safe from thieves. This also provided them with a much quieter place to enjoy their free time or visit with friends and family. The rich people could afford pretty pictures for the walls, but didn't have much furniture or carpeting but it was still very nice. The house might include many rooms like: bedrooms, kitchen, office, dining room, temple, and private bath. Aqueducts brought fresh water underground to these houses. Only the rich people could afford this.
3. School
3. School
In early Roman days kids did not go to school, instead education took place at home. Boys might be taught to read and write if their father knew how. Girls would be taught to sew, weave clothes, cook, and clean from their mom or older sisters. Rich people might have tutors for their kids, but most did not in the early days.
In early Roman days kids did not go to school, instead education took place at home. Boys might be taught to read and write if their father knew how. Girls would be taught to sew, weave clothes, cook, and clean from their mom or older sisters. Rich people might have tutors for their kids, but most did not in the early days.
After time, the Romans borrowed some ideas of the Greeks - including the idea of school. Boys went to school at age 6 or 7. Usually only boys went to school. The most important part of school in Rome was to be a good public speaker, but kids also studied reading, writing, and counting. School was not free, so most poor children did not attend.
After time, the Romans borrowed some ideas of the Greeks - including the idea of school. Boys went to school at age 6 or 7. Usually only boys went to school. The most important part of school in Rome was to be a good public speaker, but kids also studied reading, writing, and counting. School was not free, so most poor children did not attend.
School started before sunrise, so kids brought candles with them to use until daybreak. They had a rest for lunch and an afternoon siesta, but went back to class until late in the afternoon. Nobody knows how long the school year was, but it started on March 24th.
School started before sunrise, so kids brought candles with them to use until daybreak. They had a rest for lunch and an afternoon siesta, but went back to class until late in the afternoon. Nobody knows how long the school year was, but it started on March 24th.
They wrote on boards covered with wax and used pebbles for counting. They were taught Roman numerals and recited lessons and speeches they memorized. At age 12 or 13, the upper class children went to "grammar" school to learn Latin, Greek, grammar, and literature. At the age of 16, some boys went on to study public speaking even more and to prepare for life as an orator which was a person who gave important speeches in the Forum and was very well respected.
They wrote on boards covered with wax and used pebbles for counting. They were taught Roman numerals and recited lessons and speeches they memorized. At age 12 or 13, the upper class children went to "grammar" school to learn Latin, Greek, grammar, and literature. At the age of 16, some boys went on to study public speaking even more and to prepare for life as an orator which was a person who gave important speeches in the Forum and was very well respected.
4. Weddings
4. Weddings
Weddings in Rome have a lot in common with weddings today.
Weddings in Rome have a lot in common with weddings today.
Couples were usually engaged before the wedding ceremony was preformed. It wasn't required, but it was considered good manners. An engagement ring was common when it could be afforded and was worn in the third finger of the left hand. A woman often brought some supplies or goods into the marriage that her family could afford. It might be clothing, furniture, or jewelry to help the new couple start off.
Couples were usually engaged before the wedding ceremony was preformed. It wasn't required, but it was considered good manners. An engagement ring was common when it could be afforded and was worn in the third finger of the left hand. A woman often brought some supplies or goods into the marriage that her family could afford. It might be clothing, furniture, or jewelry to help the new couple start off.
The night before the wedding, the bride gave her "bulla" or birth locket to her father and gave away all her childish belongings. On the wedding day, the bride's mother helped her dress. The wedding dress was a straight tunic or cloth that had to reach her feet. The most important part was a belt tied around her waist. It was called the "knot of Hercules." She also wore a veil (which could be bright and colorful) and was topped with a wreath or circle of flowers that she picked herself.
The night before the wedding, the bride gave her "bulla" or birth locket to her father and gave away all her childish belongings. On the wedding day, the bride's mother helped her dress. The wedding dress was a straight tunic or cloth that had to reach her feet. The most important part was a belt tied around her waist. It was called the "knot of Hercules." She also wore a veil (which could be bright and colorful) and was topped with a wreath or circle of flowers that she picked herself.
The wedding ceremony was usually at the bride's parents house and performed by a priest. After, guests usually enjoyed a dinner provided and cake. An offering was made to the god Jupiter too. Finally, the bride was escorted to her new home. Anyone could join this march and many did because it was fun. People paraded around the house and threw walnuts on the couple as it was thought to be good luck. The bride lit the first fire in the new couple's home with a special torch that was carried during the march to the house. After the torch was put out, she tossed it among the guests who scrambled to catch it kind of like the bride's bouquet today.
The wedding ceremony was usually at the bride's parents house and performed by a priest. After, guests usually enjoyed a dinner provided and cake. An offering was made to the god Jupiter too. Finally, the bride was escorted to her new home. Anyone could join this march and many did because it was fun. People paraded around the house and threw walnuts on the couple as it was thought to be good luck. The bride lit the first fire in the new couple's home with a special torch that was carried during the march to the house. After the torch was put out, she tossed it among the guests who scrambled to catch it kind of like the bride's bouquet today.
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