After that followed the reign of Nero who is known for burning Rome. He was followed by Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. Life of the rulers in ancient RomeĪugustus Caesar is considered the first Roman Emperor who ruled the empire from 27 BC to 14 AD. Divorce was very rare in ancient Roman life and thus a great deal of care was taken in choosing the partner. Children were given education in reading, writing, mathematics, and other subjects from scrolls and books. Family life included the extended family with the oldest male acting as the head of the family. Various rites were observed and festivals celebrated in the honour of ancient gods. Life in ancient Rome was rich with traditions and customs in every important domain of life. Roman literature and philosophy was heavily influenced by the Greeks and with the passage of time, rich works of art, literature, philosophy, and poetry were produced by this civilisation, examples of which still exist today in some form. The cultural and religious practices of the Romans including architectures, religious temples, festivals, and other aspects were brought to distant areas including North Africa and Eastern Europe. Given the efficient transportation technology of ancient Rome, there was constant contact between different provinces of the empire and thus cultural assimilation took place. The city was rich in architecture and had a culture of theatres, baths, gymnasia and brothels. The city of Rome was the cultural centre of life in ancient Rome. It was common for people to marry in their late teens or early twenties. Children were usually taken care of by mother or by some elder relative. The wife usually had say in some matters, particularly the matters of household finances. The father had the right to punish any member of the family, claim the property of his dependants as his own, and even sell his children into slavery. In the upper classes, servants and slaves were also considered part of the household.
The Father was considered the head of the family and he had all the power in the family. Family life in ancient Romeįamily was taken as the unit of social life in ancient Rome and was important to the Romans. The system of elected representatives was established in Rome around 509 BC and it became a republic.Ī depiction of a family in Ancient Roman times. Initially, of course, life in ancient Rome was much simpler but became more complex and multi-faceted with the expansion of the kingdom. Archaeological evidence has suggested that the village of Rome was founded sometime in the 8th century BC and that can be taken as a starting point for life in ancient Rome. The history of life in ancient Rome can be traced to around 753 BC, although the founding of Rome is derived from the mythological characters of Romulus and Remus. Similarly, merchants in the towns spent most of their day trying to sell their products and travelling to different parts of the empire. Most of the people in the country side were farmers and a good part of their daily life was spent harvesting and taking care of their crops. In the towns, public baths were an important place to socialise with other people. Life in Ancient Rome was different for different kinds of people. It began in the 8th century BC and soon became a republic, eventfully becoming an empire with Augustus Caesar as its first emperor. Ancient Rome was a civilisation that took birth in the Italian peninsula and then expanded from there to the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa.