Download Daily Life of Romans Powerpoint - Irene C. Hernandez Middle School

Roman Daily Life
17 year old daily life
Roman Citizens
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Daily life for Rome’s citizens was a constant
noisy and busy society.
The poet Martial wrote, “Before it gets light,
we have the bakers. Then it’s the hammering
of the artisans all day. There’s no peace or
quiet in this city.”
The forum
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Forum: the center of most Roman cities was a
big open space. People met there to do
business, to sell things and buy things, to see
their friends, to find out about the news, and
even to go to school
The Average Roman Day
Being Counted as a Citizen
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Despite overpopulated streets in Rome, citizens
considered it an honor to be a citizen. During the
republic, only citizens of Rome itself were citizens.
Every five years, Roman men registered for the
census – official count of people living in Rome. If a
man didn’t register, he risked losing his property and
being sold into slavery.
Women, girls, slaves, and freed slaves were not
counted as citizens.
Example of a Roman Census
Citizens and City
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As the Roman Empire expanded, people
beyond Rome (city) gained citizenship.
Even though people in Roman provinces were
gaining citizenship, the people of Rome still
considered themselves to be the greatest
Roman citizens.
The Path to Roman Citizenship
Roman Social Classes
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Roman society was made up of a small number
of ___________and many __________ and
slaves. There was a huge difference between
the lives of the rich and the poor.
Most of Rome’s poor people only survived
because of government handouts.
Food in the Roman World
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4 staples: grains, vegetables, olive oil, wine
________: seafood, cheese, eggs, meat, fruit
Ientaculum: breakfast- bread, fruit, cheese
Prandiuum: lunchtime meal of fish, eggs with
vegetables
]Main meal- cena midday meal
The Roman Feast
Domus
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Could range in size
from very small house
to huge mansion
Usually 8 domus per
insula (city-block)
Included storefronts &
places to live
Life of Luxury
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Rich had villas – country estates
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Atrium with pool, shrine to family god, libraries,
office, garden
The rich often had feasts with partridge or boar
Special occasions might bring flamingo or
ostrich.
Roman Villa
Another Way of Life for the Poor
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Tenements: poor lived in rundown, poorly
built apartment housing.
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didn’t have running water, toilets, or kitchens.
All waste had to be carried down to the street
or – as often happened – dumped out of a
window.
Roman Sanitation
Bread and Circuses
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The poor needed wheat to survive. When the
harvests were bad or when grain shipments
from overseas were late, the poor often rioted.
To prevent this from happening, emperors
supplied free grain and provided spectacular
shows. The shows were held in circuses
(arenas), which eventually became their name.
Bread and Circuses
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Romans packed these events which often
included animals fighting each other, humans
fighting animals, or humans fighting other
humans.
Other circuses might include clowns for
entertainment, or public execution of
criminals.
The main events of the day were between
gladiators – people who fought to the death.
Gladiators Armor and Weapons
Bread and Circuses, cont.
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Before the battles, the gladiators paraded onto
the floor of the arena. They would approach
the emperor’s box, salute, and shout “Hail,
Caesar! We who are about to die salute you!”
Men who performed well might be spared with
a thumb’s up from the crowd.
Gladiator Battles
Support from the Government
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The Roman government provided family
support, usually to the upper classes, in various
ways.
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under Julius Caesar, fathers of 3 or more children
received land.
Unmarried men over 20 and couples with no
children suffered penalties
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designed to make sure the upper class continued
their family names.
Roman Household
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Head of household was paterfamilias which
meant “father of the family.” The family was
everyone below this rank (women, children,
and slaves).
The father owned everything in the house
(including people) and in order for a son to
own property or do business he had to be
emancipated – freed.
Role of Women in Society
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married Roman women’s only goal was to
produce children
level of freedom depended on the husband’s
wealth and status.
Some women took jobs away from the home.
Some were doctors, cooks, dressmakers, or
actors.
Slavery in Rome
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Slavery was common in ancient Rome.
Almost all wealthy families owned slaves.
Household slaves were much better off than
other slaves.
slave jobs included working in fields, in mines,
or as gladiators
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Some were eventually able to buy their freedom
Rebellions: fight for freedom not overthrow
system of slavery
Religion
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Early beliefs: polytheistic- included Greek
gods, foreign cults, and animistic (belief that
spirits inhabited everything)
Patron Dieties: temples honoring the gods, and
“home” gods in that city
Important gods: Jupiter (Zeus) king of all gods,
Juno (Hera) childbirth, moon, Mars (Ares) war
Christianity
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Belief in Jesus of Nazareth-son of God the
Father
Christians were persecuted by Romans
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Nero: blamed them for Great fire of Rome in 64 CE
Diocletian: burned all churches
Constantine I: had vision of a cross in the sky
and fortold him of victory in battle and became
emperor of Rome
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issued law of toleration (Edict of Milan in 313 CE)
Valentine's Day: Saint Valentine –
The Legend
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The Roman Emperor Claudius II waged many difficult and unpopular
campaigns. Due to the problems he had recruiting soldiers, he banned
marriages and engagements in Rome, believing single men were more
likely to enrol for the army that married men who had family ties.
Saint Valentine ignored Claudius II's ban, and secretly married many young
Roman couples.
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
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,
Saint Valentine wrote a card to the jailor's daughter, and signed it "From
your Valentine".
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