Download The Roman Empire Society and Life

The Roman Empire
Society and Life
Society of the Roman Empire
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Roman Society was very
different, but at the same time
very similar to our society
today.
Various similarities are the
taking of the census, their
civilized city, and political
parties.
The Roman Empire is different
in the laws they had, their style
of living, and education
systems.
The Forum
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The Forum remained the center
of Roman life in the city of Rome
throughout Roman rule.
The Forum is an open square with
many shops and government
buildings, in the heart of the city
of Rome.
Rome’s oldest street, the Via
Sacra, runs through the Forum.
The Forum was a place of
meeting, shopping, government
work, and was the cultural center
of the city.
Around 11 o’clock each day, the
Forum was most the busy and
alive with activity.
Shops, Markets, and Streets
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There are many busy streets with stores
that branch off of the Forum.
For example, the Argiletum was a street
that had many shoe and book stores.
Another famous street was the Vicus
Tuscus which had many spice shops.
The subura was the poor market area in
the city of Rome.
The poor and slaves of Rome shopped at
the subura that had discounted items, but
crime was a big problem.
The Census
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Every 5 years, in Rome, each male citizen had to
register for the Roman census.
For the census, each male had to give
information about his family, slaves, and wealth.
In order to be a Roman citizen, a man had to be
registered in the census.
This represented freedom for those who took the
census.
Specially trained census takers were nobles who
made sure all the information was concise and
accurate.
Roman Values
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Romans held a main belief that the
judgment and thoughts of you by others
was important and required.
Romans did not believe in judging
themselves, but rather believed that theirs
fellow citizens opinions were more
important.
In short, a person had to be “deemed
worthy by others”
Romans believed in achieving honor and
glory in order to climb the social ladder.
Nobility
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Achieving noble status in
Roman society was considered
an honor and put a person
high up in society.
Achieving noble status was
gradual and took many years
to establish.
The time required to become a
noble was three generations of
fathers who held high
positions in office or work.
Those born to a man already
declared a noble were
automatically declared nobles.
Political Parties
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Rome was never a true democracy because
citizens voted depending which candidates their
families were loyal to.
In the later years of the Roman Republic, two
political parties formed, one called the populares
and the other named the optimates.
The populares wanted the extension of citizenship
for more people, canceling citizen’s debts, and
land distribution. Most of the poorer classes of
Roman society belonged to this party.
The optimates were more conservative and
believed in keeping with the Roman tradition and
existing order.
The Work Day
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The average Roman would work about a 6 hour
day.
Only men in the family worked jobs, while the
women stayed home to domestic tasks and take
care of the children.
Some examples of Roman jobs were architects,
engineers, sculptors, carpenters, day laborers,
traders, and normal businessmen.
Son’s in the family would usually follow their
father in working the same job or business as
their father.
After work, many would head for the forum or
public baths to relax and socialize.
Roman Women
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In Roman society, the man in
their family, either being their
father or husband, was their
guardian.
Girls were not to talk with other
boys, especially before they
were married, because it was
very shamed upon.
Once married, women received
more freedom in having
authority over family slaves,
children, and running the house.
When compared to women in
other cultures of the time,
Roman women received much
more freedom and liberty.
Slaves
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The Roman Empire, just like most all other
civilizations of the time, used slave labor.
Slaves held major roles in working in mines, on
farms, making pottery, and in construction.
The Roman Empire became dependent on slave
labor and would be challenged without it.
The rich of Rome usually had many slaves,
sometimes over 20.
Not having slaves accompany you to public
places such as bath houses made a person look
poor and not of high class.
Some owners let slaves buy their freedom from
them.
A freed slave then could become a full Roman
citizen.
Education
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In the Early Roman Empire,
education was left in the hands
of a child’s parents.
As time passed, schools began
to arise and the rich would send
their children to school.
During their early child, girls and
boys received the same amount
of education.
Boys would usually then be sent
for further education if the
family could afford it.
Rich families would send their
children to school at age 7.
In school, they learned the
basics such as reading, writing,
and arithmetic.
Roman Holidays
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There were many public holidays
in the Roman Empire throughout
the year.
It is recorded that during the rule
of emperor Claudius, there were
159 public holidays.
Holidays were celebrated with
events such as chariot races and
gladiatorial combats.