Everyday Life in Ancient Rome

13.3: Everyday Life in Ancient Rome

By Lydia Phoenix

Essential Questions:

1. ​What role did slavery, gladiators and aqueducts play in daily life in ancient Rome? ​

2. How was life in ancient Rome different for the rich and poor?​​

• apartments - fire/collapse were a constant danger

• ​water - public fountains

• vendors/outdoor grills

• food - bread, produce, cheese, meat = luxury!

​​Use this chart to answer the next 4 questions!
Poor/Middle Class (most people!)

​

• large homes - city or country

• ​running water, private gardens, courtyards

• ​slaves cooked for them

• feasted on imported meats​

• hosted banquets and hired entertainers​

​​Rich

Multiple Choice

Which ancient Romans had running water in their houses?

• The poor/middle class

• The rich

Multiple Choice

The poor Roman family got their water from public ______________.

• fountains
• sewers

Multiple Choice

Which ancient Romans lived in apartments?

• The poor/middle class

• The rich

Multiple Choice

Which ancient Romans' diet included meat?

• The poor/middle class

• The rich

Aqueducts: a system of bridges and tunnels that carried water from a natural source, like a river, to a town.​

• ​Supplied public baths and drinking fountains.

• ​Could be piped into homes for a fee (only the rich could do this).​

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5AT0XY2Hi0

Multiple Select

Ancient aqueducts used ___________ and __________ to carry water into towns.

• tunnels

• bridges

• carts

• hoses

• During Augustus' reign Italy was 3/8 slaves and 5/8 free people!

• They were prisoners of war or bought from traders/pirates​

• The empire was dependent on slaves to work on farms, in mines, in households, and to do building projects. ​

• ​They were doctors, teachers, and architects.

• Treatment and living​ conditions varied from very

​

Slavery

Multiple Choice

Slaves made up _____ of the population of Italy during Augustus' reign.

• 4/8

• 3/8

• 5/8

• 1/8

Multiple Choice

All slaves in Rome were uneducated.

• True

• False

• ​"Bread and circuses" --> rulers would provide free grain and entertainment to the poor to keep them happy

• Circus = building in which an event was held ​

• Events included ​chariot racing, boxing, wrestling, javelin, gladiator games and theater

  ​

​Entertainment

​

• very dangerous - thrown/ trampled

• winners became wealthy heroes!

Chariot Racing

• ​trained in special schools to fight to the death

• included criminals, slaves, prisoners of war, and a few women

​

​​Gladiators

​

Colosseum: The largest arena for gladiator games

Multiple Select

"Bread and Circuses" refers to Roman rulers providing free _________ and __________ to the poor.

• grain

• entertainment

• trapeze lessons

• sandwiches

Multiple Choice

A circus in ancient Rome referred to...

• a building for events

• the Roman Olympic games

Multiple Choice

TRUE or FALSE: All gladiators were male.

• False

• True