PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Ancient Rome was a civilization in Italy. Daily life was very different for poor and rich people. Let's talk about that.
Family Life for Rich People
Men provided for their families. Women ran their households. Babies wore good-luck charms called bullas around their necks throughout childhood.
Family Life for Poor People
Both husbands and wives had to work to provide for their families. Some poor people were slaves. Poor children also wore bullas.
Food and Drink for Rich People
The wealthy had kitchens in their homes. They bought their daytime meals in thermopolia, which were fast food places. They had elaborate dinners that included special appetizers.
Food and Drink for Poor People
The poor had small grills that they cooked on. They also went to thermopolia. They had very plain dinners, unlike the wealthy Romans.
Housing for Rich People
The rich had spacious, airy homes. They were built of stone and marble. There were thick walls.
Housing for Poor People
Poor people lived in small, dark apartments. Rats that carried disease and filth made sickness spread rapidly. Many of the buildings were made out of wood, and the cooking grills caught fire easily.
Recreation for Rich People
Rich people could relax at public baths. They could enjoy plays in theaters and musical performances in each other's homes. They could watch gladiator contests and chariot races.
Recreation for Poor People
The poor could also relax at public baths. The Roman emperors gave them food and entertainment to keep them busy and happy. They too watched gladiator contests and chariot races.
Education for Rich People
Rich boys and girls were tutored by their fathers or slaves until they were about six years old. Then boys went off to school to learn about Latin, Greek, math, science, literature, music, and public speaking. They normally ended up becoming soldiers, doctors, politicians, or lawyers. Girls could become dentists, real estate agents, or tutors.
Education for Poor People
Many poor children were sent to work instead of school. They learned trades like leatherworking and metalworking to help earn money for their families. Some female slaves or freedwomen were able to become midwives.
Law and Order for Rich People
Wealthy citizens faced punishments that were not as harsh as the poor non-citizens. Men often tried to hide their wealth when they were out at night by wearing old, dirty clothes to protect themselves against crime. People tried to win the jury's sympathy by wearing rags or dirty clothes or having their wives and children cry in front of the jury.
Law and Order for Poor People
The poor people, who were often not citizens, were punished more harshly than the wealthy citizens. They were not treated equally. But, they, along with the wealthy Romans, could accuse someone else of a crime.
Country Life for Rich Romans
Many wealthy Romans owned estates that had large homes called villas. Romans invested their money in raising crops and livestock and relaxed in villas. They checked up on how their farms were being managed, but they did not work on them.
Country Life for Poor People
Slaves did a lot of the actual work on the farms and were often treated cruelly by supervisors. The people who were not slaves lived in huts and worked their own small farms, trying to earn enough to survive. Others labored on the estates.