Romans - Part 1

The city of Rome developed from a collection of villages along the river T[blank_start]iber[blank_end] in I[blank_start]taly[blank_end]. The Romans conquered I[blank_start]taly[blank_end], E[blank_start]urope[blank_end], parts of the M[blank_start]iddle[blank_end] E[blank_start]ast[blank_end] and N[blank_start]orth[blank_end] A[blank_start]frica[blank_end].

How do we know so much about the Romans: Archaeologists have discovered the remains of R[blank_start]oman[blank_end] t[blank_start]owns[blank_end] such as P[blank_start]ompeii[blank_end].

Discoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum: In 79 AD the volcano V[blank_start]esuvius[blank_end] erupted covering Po[blank_start]mpeii[blank_end] in ash and pu[blank_start]mice[blank_end]. The ash helped pr[blank_start]eserve[blank_end] the town.

Freeborn men and women were known as c[blank_start]itizens[blank_end]. The rich were known as p[blank_start]atricians[blank_end], the poor as p[blank_start]lebeians[blank_end]. S[blank_start]laves[blank_end] were owned by patricians.

People in History: A Slave in Ancient Rome Slavery was an i[blank_start]mportant[blank_end] part of Roman c[blank_start]ivilization[blank_end]. Millions of slaves worked for the p[blank_start]atricians[blank_end]. They had no r[blank_start]ights[blank_end] and were completely controlled by their ma[blank_start]sters[blank_end]. People became slaves in different ways. Some were c[blank_start]aptured[blank_end] in battle and others were b[blank_start]ought[blank_end] and sold by t[blank_start]raders[blank_end]. Sometimes c[blank_start]riminals[blank_end] were sentenced to a life of slavery as p[blank_start]unishment[blank_end] for serious offences. Others were b[blank_start]orn[blank_end] into slavery. Slaves had to do all kinds of work. Depending on skills slaves could be trusted as c[blank_start]hild[blank_end] carers, t[blank_start]eachers[blank_end], c[blank_start]ooks[blank_end] or d[blank_start]octors[blank_end]. Many G[blank_start]reek[blank_end] scholars were bought as p[blank_start]rivate[blank_end] t[blank_start]utors[blank_end] for rich children. Slaves like these were often t[blank_start]reated[blank_end] well and allowed to earn f[blank_start]reedom[blank_end] after a certain period of time. Some masters wrote in their slaves w[blank_start]ill[blank_end] that upon their d[blank_start]eath[blank_end] slaves could be set free. A ceremony called m[blank_start]anumission[blank_end] was held to mark the freedom of a slave. Slaves were set free when touched with a special stick called a v[blank_start]indicta[blank_end]. They also wore a straw cap called the cap of l[blank_start]iberty[blank_end]. For many slaves however life consisted of tough m[blank_start]anual[blank_end] labour in salt mines and quarries. They often d[blank_start]ied[blank_end] at a young age. They were usually bought at s[blank_start]lave[blank_end] markets where they were paraded in front of masters. The stronger and yonuger slaves were always more e[blank_start]xpensive[blank_end]. Other slaves chosen to become g[blank_start]ladiators[blank_end], which offered better conditions during training and a possible path to freedom, but many died before they could reap the benefits.

Housing: A rich Roman's house was called a d[blank_start]omus[blank_end]. Beyond the hall was an entrance called the a[blank_start]trium[blank_end]. There was a p[blank_start]eristyle[blank_end] (garden) at the back. The kitchen was called a c[blank_start]ulina[blank_end] and the bedrooms c[blank_start]ubicula[blank_end]. The houses were beautifully decorated with m[blank_start]urals[blank_end] and m[blank_start]osaics[blank_end]. They usually had running water from the a[blank_start]queduct[blank_end] system. Most Romans lived in i[blank_start]nsulae[blank_end] (modern day flats). Most were around five or six stories high. Stepping stones were placed along the road by these insulae to avoid the rubbish and dirt.

Arts and Crafts: Rich Romans had mosaics or f[blank_start]rescoes[blank_end] painted by artists in their homes. Romans were also skilled potters. Romans also discovered glass-blowing.

The Forum: The Forum was the market place at the centre of Rome. Here people bought f[blank_start]ood[blank_end]. It was very busy, especially on every e[blank_start]ighth[blank_end] day when a market was held. A long road called the V[blank_start]ia[blank_end] S[blank_start]acra[blank_end] runs through the centre of the forum.

Food: Food like do[blank_start]rmice[blank_end], pig, boar's head, honey c[blank_start]akes[blank_end] and g[blank_start]rapes[blank_end] were served. The guests usually l[blank_start]ay[blank_end] around the dinner table. No k[blank_start]nives[blank_end] or forks were used. Poor people ate s[blank_start]oup[blank_end], cheap m[blank_start]eat[blank_end] and some received free grain known as the d[blank_start]ole[blank_end].

Clothes: Most Romans wore a t[blank_start]unic[blank_end] (a type of dress). Men usually wore a t[blank_start]oga[blank_end] over their tunic. Women wore a cloak called a p[blank_start]alla[blank_end]. Both men and women wore leather s[blank_start]andals[blank_end].

Pastimes: C[blank_start]hariot[blank_end] racing was probably the most popular sport., usually held in the C[blank_start]ircus[blank_end] M[blank_start]aximus[blank_end]. Racing consisted of s[blank_start]even[blank_end] laps around an o[blank_start]val[blank_end] shaped track.

The Colosseum: Games were held in specially built arenas usually between g[blank_start]ladiators[blank_end]. After some time a[blank_start]mphitheaters[blank_end] were built to hold these games. The largest of these stadiums was The C[blank_start]olosseum[blank_end]. Sometimes gladiators fought blindfolded or against wild a[blank_start]nimals[blank_end]. The e[blank_start]mperor[blank_end] decided if the winning gladiator should live or die by giving him a t[blank_start]humbs[blank_end] up or a thumbs down. After many fights some gladiator s[blank_start]laves[blank_end] were presented with a w[blank_start]ooden[blank_end] s[blank_start]word[blank_end] signalling their freedom.

The Baths: People went to baths to talk, relax and socialize. The f[blank_start]rigidarium[blank_end] was a cold room, t[blank_start]epidarium[blank_end] was a warm room and the c[blank_start]aldarium[blank_end] was a hot room. Roman's didn't use soap, but oil instead. They exfoliated with a stick called a s[blank_start]trigil[blank_end]. The baths also contained a gym, b[blank_start]arbers[blank_end], restaurants and libraries.