DAILY LIFE IN ROME         

                                                                                    Chris M 

     What did you think of Rome before? After this you will see it in a new way. This is Rome, one of the most vast empires ever. Their gods were similar to the Greeks, but a little different. Life was okay for some of the people, but not so good for the poor.  Their government was highly refined, their armies, unstoppable.

    People in Rome worshiped gods for good fortune. The people offered the gods food and clothing.  Some gods/goddesses were  Jenus, god of the doorway,  Vesta, goddesses of the earth,  Jupiter whose temple is on Capital Hill, and  Juno, his wife was the sky goddess. Part of that family included Bacchus god of wine,  Diana the moon goddess, and huntress and  Mars, the god of war. Also in that family were Mercury messenger of the gods,  Neptune, god of the sea,  Saturn  god of farming and Venus goddess of love and beauty, mother of Cupid. Some of the planets names come from Roman gods/goddesses.

    Their republic was similar to ours. They had two consuls, they were advised by a senate. The senate was made up of the elected  heads of Rome . The people and the senate would vote for the consuls' ideas. The Roman republic was established in 509 B.C. After the nobles threw out the king. The government kept many old ways. Each consul would serve for only one year.

    The Roman armies brought back many victories and good wealth for their empire. After the battles the Romans would bring back some slaves, but not many. The Romans would let the people they just defeated keep on their regular life with no harm or they would let them leave. The Romans had the best army at the time. Plus they had the best warriors and the best armor and weapons. Nobody could stop the warriors of Rome.

     The public bathes were places for the rich and wealthy to talk to their friends and family. The baths were known as the thermae, when citizens got there they would go get undressed at a dressing room. In a room called a "unctuarium" they would get oils rubbed into their skin. Next they went to a pool called a "tepidarium" to relax. Then they went to a room called a "caldarium." There they could relax and talk to their friends or their family and get drinks and food. Then they would take a sharp tool and clean their skin, it was called a "strigil." Next the people would take a dip in a hot pool called a "caladarium." Next they went to a cold pool a "frigidarium." Last somebody would come over and massage oils and perfumes into their skin.

    As you can see, Rome is much different then before in ancient times. Also most famous words like the planets came from the Romans. We have things like they had back in ancient Rome, like the baths, we have fitness clubs. That is just like a public bath. 

References:

R.J Unstead, A Roman Town 

Pamela Odijk, The Romans

The World Book Encyclopedia

Prentice Hall,   The Ancient World

http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/MidElem_Home.html 

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