The Daily Life and
contributions of
the Ancient
Romans
World History I
Main Ideas
• Culture - Roles in Roman family life and society
were clearly defined.
• Belief Systems – Roman religious beliefs were
influenced by other cultures and linked with
government.
• Culture – Although they were overcrowded and
dirty, Roman cities were also places of interesting
innovations and entertainments.
Family and Society
Essential Question:
How were the family and society
organized?
Women and Children
• Women
– Women could inherit property but couldn’t vote
– Women ran household, and cared for children
– Father was head of the house and owned property
• Children
– Most were educated at home
• Rich families sent boys to private school
– Girls learned household skills
• Married around the age of 14
Social Classes
• Patricians and wealthy plebeians formed upper class
• Middle class of businessmen and officials
developed
• Farmers formed one of the lower classes
• Slaves were the lowest and largest class
– About one-third of the population
– Worked in mines, on estates, as servants, or in clerical
positions
– Revolts were common, but none succeeded
Review Question:
What were the roles in a typical
Roman family?
Roman Beliefs
Essential Question:
What religious beliefs did the
Romans hold?
Religious Influences on
Religion and Public Life
• Religious influences
– Early Romans worshipped nature spirits and household
gods
– Later, they adopted Etruscan rituals and Greek gods
• Religion and Public Life
– Religion and government were linked
• Priests were government officials
• Emperor was head of church
– Roman gods that symbolized state were honored in
public ceremonies
– Over time, living emperor was worshipped as a god
Greek and Roman
mythology
Greek Name
Roman Name
Zeus
Jupiter
Hera
Juno
Athena
Minerva
Apollo
Apollo
Aphrodite
Venus
Artemis
Diana
Religion
• Roman Mythology
• Later adoption of Christianity as imperial religion
The Pantheon
Review Question:
What influences helped form the
Roman religion?
Life in Roman
Cities
Essential Question:
What was life like in Roman cities?
The Crowded City
• At the height of the Roman Empire, nearly 1
million lived in Rome
• People moved to Rome from all over the empire
• The poor and unemployed lived in dirty, noisy, and
crowded city center
– Lacked food
– Government gave free grain to prevent unrest
• The rich had large country homes, and/or lavish
houses in the cities
– Went to theater, had dinner parties
– Ate food like dates, oysters, ham
Ancient Roman
Apartments (insulae)
Structures of City Life
• Built sewers and plumbing systems to improve
sanitation
• Aqueducts brought water to towns through pipes
and channels
– Mostly underground, but also over high bridges
• Public baths were used by all classes to bathe and to
socialize
Aqueducts
Health
• Emphasis on public health
– Public baths, public water system, medical schools
Roman Sports
• Government provided
entertainment to distract
Romans from problems
– Circus Maximus: large oval
stadium for chariot races
– Colosseum – famous arena
• Gladiators – trained slaves
who fought as warriors to
the death in arenas
– Arenas were located
throughout the empire, but
the Colosseum was the
main event
Circus Maximus
The Colosseum
Review Question:
How did the Roman government
try to solve some of the problems
of city life?
Technology
Roman Arch
Other contributions
• Latin
– Romance languages (French, Spanish, Italian, English,
etc.)
• Literature: Virgil – Aeneid
– One of the greatest works of Roman literature
– A myth about the beginnings of Rome
• Principle of “Innocent until Proven Guilty”
– Twelve Tables
Lesson Summary
• Family life and social classes were important in
ancient Rome.
• Romans worshipped many gods both privately at
home and in public ceremonies.
• Roman city life was challenging, but the government
tried to ease some of its problems.
• The Romans made many technological advances
that impacted Western culture.
Why it Matters
Now…
Ancient Rome was a mixture of different
cultures and beliefs, just like many modern
societies today including our own.