Daily Life in the roman empire
Around 100 C.E., what place was the center of Rome where people gathered for markets, government, and religious activities?
The Forum
What idea means people should live according to agreed-upon laws?
Rule of law
Name one way Romans honored household or household gods daily.
Each home had an altar; offering a small cake to Vesta at the hearth
What is the Latin term for "father of the family," who had authority over the household?
Paterfamilias
Where did many Roman children of wealthy families start their education before attending school?
Tutored by their father or a slave at home until about age six
About how many people lived in Rome at its height, making it a city of great contrasts?
Nearly one million
In the empire, who was considered the ultimate source of law?
The emperor
What did Romans often leave at temples shaped like a hurt body part?
A small offering (shaped like the body part)
What happened to newborns the father did not approve of, according to the text?
They could be left outside to die or to be claimed as a slave
What writing tools did Roman students use in class to write and erase?
A stylus and wax-covered wooden tablets
Name two things wealthy Romans spent money on that came from across the empire.
Silks and perfumes or jeweled weapons, musical instruments, statues, fountains, fine pottery
What symbol did bodyguards carry that represented the government's right to punish
Fasces
Which culture's gods did the Romans adopt many from?
The Greeks
What is a bulla and when was it given?
A good-luck charm placed around a baby's neck at the naming ceremony, nine days after birth
Name two subjects Roman boys typically studied.
Latin, Greek, math, science, literature, music, public speaking
Why did emperors give away food and provide entertainment to the poor?
To keep them from turning into an angry, dangerous mob / to maintain public order
How could an accused person try to sway a jury in Rome?
By appearing poor or having family members show emotion; wearing rags or dirty clothes to gain sympathy
How did religion in Rome change regarding emperors?
Romans began to honor some emperors as gods and built temples for them
At what ages did Roman boys typically celebrate becoming men and discard their bulla?
Between 14 and 18; sometimes around 16 for wealthy boys
At what age did upper-class boys often finish school and begin to manage properties?
16
Describe two major differences between life in Rome's city neighborhoods for the rich versus the poor.
Rich lived in spacious homes with gardens, statues, and indoor pools; poor lived in tiny, crowded, dirty apartments with disease and fire risk
Explain one way Roman law was applied unequally between rich and poor.
The poor, often noncitizens, faced harsher punishments and sometimes torture; rich could receive lighter treatment
Why did Romans generally welcome new religions as their empire expanded, what was the one restriction?
They welcomed new religions as long as those religions didn't encourage disloyalty to the emperor
Explain how marriage and becoming paterfamilias worked for a Roman man.
Men became adults when married, but did not become paterfamilias until his own father died; marriage ceremonies took place at temples, bride wore a white toga and veil
Explain one way education differed for boys and girls or rich and poor in Rome.
Wealthy boys (and some girls) had tutors and formal schooling; poor children were often sent to work and learned trades; girls' formal schooling was less common and they often became adults when married