Women
What was the role of a women in a household?
In Roman life, a women's role was to look after the household
What was the role of men in a household?
In any Roman family life, the head of the household was a man.
What happened to poor Roman children whose families couldn't afford them?
If times were hard, they might abandon newborn babies to the streets, hoping that someone else would take them in as a servant or slave.
Typically, where did wealthy Romans live?
They lived in beautiful houses that were often on the hills outside Rome, away from the noise and the smell.
Typically, where did poorer Romans live?
They lived in shabby, squalid houses that could collapse or burn at any moment.
Could women own property?
No, only men could own property
What powers did men have over their children?
He could reject children if they were disfigured, if he questioned their paternity, if he had more than one daughter already or merely if he felt so inclined. He could also sell any of his children into slavery.
Who decided children's fate?
Their father
Describe their lifestyle:
They enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle with luxurious furnishings, surrounded by servants and slaves to cater to their every desire. Many would hold exclusive dinner parties and serve their guests the exotic dishes of the day.
Describe their lifestlye:
They would wake up and have breakfast then go to work for most of the day. Then, they would come home, eat, and tend to their children. Children started working at age 15.
What was a women's public life like?
Roman women had a very limited role in public life. They could not attend, speak in, or vote at political assemblies and they could not hold any position of political responsibility. Lower class Roman women did have a public life because they had to work for a living.
What are some jobs for lower class men?
Men of lower classes were usually farmers, shopkeepers, or craftsmen.
How did wealthier children live?
Children that were from wealthier families would be educated at home or would be taught by tutors or in the schoolhouse
What were meals like for rich people?
Their daily meals had such ingredients as meat, fish, fruits, bread and honey.
What were meals like for poor people?
The daily meal of lower class people consisted of wine, olives, cheese, and bread
What are some typical jobs for lower class women?
Typical jobs undertaken by poor women were in agriculture, markets, crafts, as midwives and as wet-nurses.
What did men in ancient Rome wear?
All men wore togas, which are long sheets of expensive material that were folded over one shoulder and draped around the body.
What did girls learn at school?
Girls who went to school learned how to spin, weave, cook, and clean so they would be able to care for a house when they were married.
What kinds of jobs did rich Romans have?
Typically, higher class ancient Romans would have jobs as teachers, lawyers, engineers, government, etc.
What were some Plebeian jobs?
Typically, Plebeians would have jobs as artisans, craftsmen, bakers etc
What were women able to do by the end of the Republic?
By the end of the Republic, she was even permitted to sit with her husband at dinner, go to the baths, although not at the same time as the men, and attend the theater and games. Later, women could be seen working as bakers, pharmacists and shopkeepers and, legally, women’s rights improved, for example, divorce proceedings could be initiated by either the husband or wife.
What would men do in the day?
Men would wake up, eat breakfast, go to work, eat a light lunch, come home, got to a public bath, then go back home.
Did Roman children play with toys?
Both boys and girls played with toys. Boys played war games, and had wooden swords, little soldiers, and chariots with wheels. Girls played with dolls, and dollhouses, and tiny sets of dishes. Both boys and girls played board and ball games, like tic-tac-toe and knuckleball (jacks).
Where did rich people get their education?
Children that were from wealthier families would be educated at home or would be taught by tutors or in the schoolhouse
What kind of people were slaves?
Slaves would typically be prisoners of war, but sometimes they were abandoned children who were owned by their master.