Ancient Rome 

History

  • Believed to be founded by Romulus and Remus in 753AD
  • Kings were kicked out of the city and replaced by a republic
  • The republic later fell and was replaced by the empire

Towns

  • Grid system
  • Forum - a large town square was the centre of business, political activity and worship

People

  • ==Patricians==- wealthy noble families who ruled Rome. Had huge estate and controlled the government and the army
  • ==Plebeians==- were the poor who made up the vast majority of the population, farmed, worked in trades and the army

Houses

  • ==Domus==- patrician, large detached house, had a central courtyard called atrium, wall and floors decorated with paintings and mosaics
  • ==Insulae==- plebeians, apartments, shops on the ground floor, as you got higher the smaller they got, top floor made of wood, poorest

Slaves

  • Slavery was an everyday part of life
  • By law slave were property of their master

Marriage

  • Girls married by the age 15
  • A wife was expected to run the house, bear a son and raise teh children

Education

  • Plebeians were taught at home and then worked with their parents
  • Patrician (mainly boys) went to school at the age 7
  • By 12 all girls had to stay at home

Entertainment

  • Public entertainment was very important
  • ==Roman baths==- easiest way to stay clean, social place
  • ==Chariot racing==- chariot pulled by horses raced, very dangerous, gambling was popular
  • ==Theatre==- tragedy and comedy plays, men only actors
  • ==Gladiators==- fought in oval arenas called amphitheatres in every major city

Religion

  • Religion was important, they were polytheistic and would make offerings
  • After the death of Jesus, Christianity spread through out the empire

Army

  • A soldier enlisted at age 20 and had to serve for 25 years
  • At the end of his service he received a final payment and a plot of land to farm