Ancient Rome - Regents Review

1
Daily Life In Rome
By Kerry Giordano Thurgood Marshall Fundamental
Middle
2
The Client-Patron System

• Network of reciprocal relationships
  institutionalized by Roman custom
• The duties of the Client
• The obligations of the Patron
• Patron-client relationships endured over
  generations in many cases and sometimes across
  miles
• Reflects the central Roman value of fidelity

3
Law and Order

• Senators carry weight
• Crime common murder, assault, stealing
• Police patrol rich only
• Some streets closed at night
• Anyone can accuse anyone of a crime!
• Poor often harsher punishments

4
The Role of Religion

• Roman gods stern, powerful and aloof
• No formal priesthoodrole of aristocrats
• --pax deorum
• The Pontifex Maximus and his board of priests
• The role of religious festivals and foreign cults
• --The Festival of Lupercalia
• Except most religions- no conflict with emperor

5
Roman Religion (cont)

• Three central gods Jupiter, Juno and Minerva
• Main role of the gods was protection and
  provision oversee daily life
• The shrine of Vesta and the Vestal Virgins
  offer cakes on the hearth
• Household shrines Penates and Lares
• Roman belief in a multitude of spirits

6
Power in the Roman Family

• A Patriarchal Society Patria Potestas (Power
  of a Father)
• Father assumed the power of life and death over
  his family
• Roman fathers conferred with a council of
  friends
• Women living in the shadow of men wealthy can
  own property
• The power and duties of women
• --Tullia

7
Power in the Roman Family (cont)

• The lot of poor women - HARD
• The indirect political impact of women
• A day in the life of a Roman household
• --Began the day early
• --Main meal at midday
• --An agricultural economy and practices

8
Goals of Roman Education for Public Life

• Only strong babies kept
• Poor home school until 6/7
• Naming Ceremony Bulla (boys)
• Boys 14-18 Manhood ceremony
• Study- Latin, Greek, math, science, lit, music,
  public speaking
• Education of girls dentist,
• Real estate, tutors, midwives
• Girls12-18 married

9
Roman Food and Drink

• Wealthy kitchens vs. Poor grills
• Thermopolia fast food
• Bread, beans, spices, few veggies, cheese, water,
  meat, etc.
• Market exotic animals anything for
• Breakfast bread, beans or porridge
• Lunch cheese/bread and maybe olives/celery
• Dinner
• Poor fish, asparagus, fig
• Wealthy honey roasted parrots, date stuffing,
  salted jellyfish, snails in milk!

10
Roman Houses

• Wealthy stone/marble, atrium, couches, mosaics
• Poor apartment buildings, grills, cramped,
  noisy, dirty

11
Roman Recreation

• Public Baths
• - for everyone
• - swim, bathe, exercise, massage
• - libraries, shops, art, gardens
• Bread and Circuses (poor) free
• - gladiators bloody!
• - Circus Maximus chariots men and women can
  
• sit together!

12
Roman Country Life

• 90 of people live in the country
• Wealthy villas raise crops/livestock
• Farms grains, grapes, olives, goats, sheep,
  cattle, pigs, bees
• Slaves most of the work!
• Non-slaves huts, tiny farm or labor on estates