RomanLife Style

Chariot Races• Most popular pastime

• Held in hippodromes in the east, circuses in the west..

• Very expensive

• organized into a highly profitable business.

Amphitheaters

• Commonly used for gladiators

• Four types of gladiators: Murmillo, Retiaritus, Samnite, Thracian

• Used for mock naval battles

• Animal performances

Theaters

• Plays presented wooded stages.

• First Roman theater built by Pompey in 55 BC

• All actors were male slaves.

• Men acted as women.

• Admission free to citizens.

Slavery Farms• Farm slaves produced food and materials

the city’s depended on.

• Important crops included wheat olives vines and grapes.

• Slave farms Rome’s greatest source of income.

Slaves on Business

• Slaves aided market workers in running businesses.

• Duties included shop keeping, lending money, buying and selling of merchandise.

Slave Treatment• Some treated well, others badly.

• Better treated slaves given more privileges, comfort.

• Badly treated slaves beaten regularly.

• Became gladiators, or chariot racers.

Upper class Homes• One story buildings.• Houses separated into two parts.• First room, Atrium, had high ceiling and

sparse furniture.• Hole in ceiling for rain water to come in.• Bedrooms and dining room around

atrium.• Back of house had gardens and

bathrooms.• Often made of brick with red tile roofs.

Lower class homes• Crowded in tenement blocks• Lived in flats above or behind shops• Usually no running water• Crowded• Fires threatened• No toilets

Jobs• Jobs based on social rank.• Patricians focused wealth on land ownership and

farming.• Patricians affairs managed by middle class farm

managers.• Jobs included: Political, Administration, Military,

Farming, Trade.