The father’s authority, however, was limited by custom. If children misbehaved, he could punish them with banishment, slavery, or even death. At birth, his new-born children were placed at his feet while he decided whether they should be raised or, if deemed weak, exposed to die. The Roman father's power was so absolute within the family that he could sell his wife into slavery or divorce her if he chose. He chose husbands for his daughters and wives for his sons. The father had complete authority over the members of his family, much as Roman magistrates had authority over the citizens. The most important person in a Roman family was the father, or paterfamilias. When a daughter married, she passed into the household of her husband. If a Roman man had no sons, it was common practice to adopt adult males into the family to ensure an heir. The Roman family could even include slaves. The Roman family included the parents and children, as well as the sons’ wives and their families. Really, it was anyone who was “familiar” to one another. The Roman familas was large and its definition was broader. When we think of a family, we understand it to be mother, father, and children. More generally, it was the Roman government’s job to “care” for the people who called Rome “home.” The government was charged with setting rules and handing out punishments, making sure that the gods were honored, and building character in the population. The job of the Roman magistrates was like that of a father, but with a much larger “family” to care for. The very character of Rome itself evolved from the family. The Roman family formed the foundation of what it meant to be Roman. How did the Roman government act like the head of a family? In doing so, they also extended a distinctly Roman “way of life.” In this lesson, you will find out what it was like to be Roman. One way that Rome controlled newly conquered populations and bound people to Rome was by building “Roman” towns throughout their Empire. Once the new people became citizens, however, they were Roman, no matter where they called home. The Roman Empire expanded through the use of force, it’s true. After adding a new territory to the Empire, Rome extended the rights of citizenship to the people they conquered. Rome grew into an empire, in part, because of how it treated the people it conquered. What are two ways that Rome controlled its vast empire? Sometimes, they even fought wild animals to entertain the crowds. People watched chariot races, as well as gladiator fights.
Boy with suspenders holding book plaster wall art from rome free#
Politicians offered free food and entertainment to gain the support of the poor. Their neighborhoods were noisy, and dirty.
In contrast to the opulent homes on Palatine Hill, the working poor of Rome crowded into the ancient equivalent of apartment buildings.
Most Romans, were poor and performed unskilled labor for work. With more than one million people living there, the city was also a dirty and dangerous place, with a maze of side-streets and slums. Wealthier Romans lived in big houses built around courtyards. It had a public square called the Forum where Romans shopped, conducted business, played games, and visited with friends. It had gleaming white marble temples and palaces. Rome was one of the largest and most carefully planned cities in the ancient world. At its peak, the Roman Empire stretched across Europe, North Africa and Asia and was home to more than 45 million people. The ancient Romans were one of the most advanced civilizations in history.
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