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Want To Live In Rome?

© Elizabeth Batt

Try and think about the role your Dad plays in your household. Chances are that Mum and Dad make decisions equally and that the household has no really clear leader. Now, imagine your Dad as the top ruler, where everything he says goes and no one, not even Mum, can argue with him. Well, your Mum might have a few things to say about that, but not if she had lived in the Roman age!

You see Dad was the be all and end all of Roman family life. His word was law and he was the complete ruler over his household, his family and his children! His rule was so great that he could choose not to claim you at birth. If he didn't pick you up after you were born then you were not accepted into the family and you were either left to die, or you became a slave. Even if you were accepted by Dad, should you displease him, then he could order your death or have you sold into slavery!

A little bit different from being sent to your room hey?

The Romans placed family values above everything, including education. Whether you were schooled or not was up to your Dad, but if he did allow you an education then you would have been watched carefully to make sure that your values stayed strong and that you weren't being led astray. Families were very important to the Romans indeed and carrying on the family name was also seen as vital. If there was a chance that the family line might end, then it wasn't unusual for a distant relative to be adopted to make sure that the family didn't die out.

As with most societies, there was a class structure in Rome and your rank and wealth decided how you lived. The average Roman in the city often lived in an insulae, a type of street-shop with living areas attached. Romans that were rich would dwell in a domus or a villa, houses that was built around a courtyard. These were usually built away from the city out in the countryside.

Eating well was a favourite hobby of the Romans. The wealthier families enjoyed lavish feasts and the more food the better! If you were poor then your diet was very different, porridge and bread would be the main food with meat and vegetables added when they could be afforded.

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