Livin’ La Vida Rome
Roman Society
Men and Women
•Rome was a patriarchal society= men ruled theirfamilies and traced origins through males ancestors
•Power of fathers
–Paterfamilias= oldest man in a Roman family
•Owned all property
•Unlimited power in family but limited by custom
•Role of women
–Enjoyed more freedom that Greek women
–Could own personal property
–Most important role of a woman was to bear children
–Ideal woman was faithful wife and mother, devoted to herfamily
Rich and Poor
•Most Romans were poor free people or slaves
•Living the good life
–Most wealthy Roman earned their money fromagriculture
– Lived in one-or-two story houses as large as a cityblock
•Had gardens, courtyards, private baths, decorations
•Villas= large country home
–Worked on advancing political careers
•The common people
–Most poor lived incramped city apartments
•Crime, disease, and firewere serious dangers
–Jobs
•Tenant farmers= rentedland from wealthylandlords
•Day laborers
•Ran stores taverns, andresturants
Slavery
•As many as 40% of the population in 1 B.C.E.
•Living Conditions
–No rights
–Children born into slavery were also slaves
–Living conditions varied from harsh to that of apoor Roman
–Slaves who served loyally could be freed
Roman Religion
•Important part of every day life
•Origins
–Worshiped hundreds of gods
–Many were adopted from Greeks or Etruscans
•Role of government
–Established= an official religion supported by thegovernment
–Government officials also served as priests
–Believed it was important to keep the gods happy