Daily Life in the Roman City

Rome, Pompeii, and Ostia

Gregory S. Aldrete

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Year: 2004
• Print ISBN:
  9780313331749
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9780313017971
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Ancient History
• Index: History

Despite the fact that the majority of the inhabitants of the Roman Empire lived an agricultural existence and thus resided outside of urban centers, there is no denying the fact that the core of Roman civilization—its essential culture and politics—was based in cities. Even at the furthest boundaries of the Empire, Roman cities shared a remarkable and consistent similarity in terms of architecture, art, infrastructure, and organization which was modeled after the greatest city of all, Rome itself. In Gregory Aldrete's exhaustive account, readers will have the opportunity to peer into the inner workings of daily life in ancient Rome, to witness the full range of glory, cruelty, sophistication, and deprivation that characterized Roman cities, and will perhaps even gain new insight into the nature and history of urban existence in America today.

Included are accounts of Rome's history, infrastructure, government, and inhabitants, as well as chapters on life and death, the dangers and pleasures of urban living, entertainment, religion, the emperors, and the economy. Additional sections explore two other important Roman cities: Ostia, an industrial port town, and Pompeii, the doomed playground of the rich. This volume is ideal for high school and college students, as well as for anyone interested in examining the realities of life in ancient Rome. A chronology of the time period, maps, illustrations, a bibliography, and an index are also included.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Chronology
• 1. Introduction: Roman Cities
• 2. History of Ancient Rome
• 3. Infrastructure of Ancient Rome
• 4. Government of Ancient Rome
• 5. The People of Ancient Rome
• 6. Living and Dying in Ancient Rome
• 7. Dangers of Life in Ancient Rome
• 8. Pleasures of Life in Ancient Rome
• 9. Entertainment in Ancient Rome
• 10. Religion in Ancient Rome
• 11. The Emperors and Ancient Rome
• 12. The Economy and Ancient Rome
• 13. Ostia: An Industrial Port City
• 14. Pompeii: A Time Capsule of Roman Daily Life
• 15. Conclusion: Three Visions of Roman Urbanism: Rome, Ostia, and Pompeii
• Appendix I: A Brief Guide to Understanding Roman Names
• Appendix II: A Brief Guide to Roman Timekeeping and the Calendar
• Appendix III: A Brief Guide to Roman Clothing and Appearance
• Appendix IV: A Brief Guide to Roman Construction Techniques
• Appendix V: The History of the City of Rome from Antiquity to Today
• Bibliography
• Index