Daily_Life

There were many things going on all over the Roman Empire. People had specific jobs and different lives to lead. Usually, Romans were busy from the minute they got up in the morning to the minute they went to bed. There was always something to do in the Empire. There were many things to see and many jobs or entertainment for the people. Some aspects of their daily life were:

The Roman Amphitheatre

The Roman amphitheatre was the centre of entertainment in Rome, and all over the Roman Empire. The largest amphitheatre in the empire was the Colosseum. The amphitheatre was the place where people went to see fights between animals, slaves, prisoners, or criminals. They were so popular that schools were set up to train ordinary men as special fighters known as Gladiators.
The fights were very dangerous and bloody. The gladiators we always armed but the people who they were fighting against had nothing. They fought to the death. If a man were wounded, he would throw down his shield and raise his left index finger as a plea for mercy. The crowd decided whether the man should live or die by giving thumbs up or thumbs down. Thumbs up meant the man should live, thumbs down meant the man should die. Other fights were between men and animals. These were like our modern-day bullfights. The animals were said to be more exciting.
This was a form of entertainment for many people, but this did not appeal to everyone. Some people often complained about it.

Roman Theater

The Theater was very important in the lives of the Romans. It was a way to keep the people entertained and happy. It also kept them busy so they would not plot against the emperor. The ideas and ways of the Roman theater were taken mostly from the Greeks.
Women were not allowed to act. Their parts were usually played by young men or men in white masks. The costumes showed the audience who the person was (for example: a purple gown for a rich man, a striped toga for a boy, a short cloak for a soldier, a red toga for a poor man, or a short tunic for a slave). The actors spoke the lines, but a second actor mimed the gestures to fit the lines, along with background music.
Some of the plays that were shown in the theater would today be considered disgusting and unpleasant. However, they held the interest of the audience. In addition, some performances were a way of showing talents (especially the emperor's).

Roman Games (Track and Field)

Romans used to gather around a place called the Campus. The Campus was an old drill ground for soldiers. All men gathered, played, and exercised at the Campus. Men played many kinds of sports and activities. Women could not join in these activities. Some of the sports that were played include foot racing, jumping, archery, wrestling and boxing.

School

In the early Roman days, boys were taught at home. If the father had a good education than he taught his son what he knew. Girls were taught by their mother how to sew and weave.
In about 200 BC, the Romans started to send their children to school. They were sent at age 6 or 7. School began on March 24 each year, but no one knows exactly how long the school year was. The school day began before sunrise and ended in the late afternoon. They read scrolls and books and used pebbles for math. At the age of 12 and 13 people of the upper class attended "grammar" school. Some went to school to prepare for life as an orator. Schools were not free, so unfortunately for the lower class, they had to be home schooled or they would have no education.

Many of the Roman school traditions were adopted from the Greeks.

Toys

There were many items that were used it entertain and keep the children busy. (For example: balls, board games, kites, tiny models of people and animals, etc.) These games and toys helped to keep the children busy.

Young boys played warlike games with wooden swords. That often kept them busy and they enjoyed playing it very much. The girls played mostly with dolls. They were made out of wax and rags. There were also pets for the children to play with.

All Romans enjoyed playing different games and having fun. The children always found time to play, even in their busy schedules.

The Forum

The Forum was the main marketplace and center of business. It was a place where the Romans could do their banking, shopping, and marketing. It was also used for festivals and religious ceremonies. It was also a place for the great orators to speak.

Roman Families

In the early times, Roman families were like little Greek city-states. Everyone in the family lived under one roof. The head of the family was the oldest male. Everyone had a little bit of a different lifestyle from each other because the head of the family had the right to choose the rules for his family. Women had no authority in the early Roman times. The Romans greatly respected and cared or the elderly.
During the Imperial Age, many things had changed for women. They were allowed to run businesses, own land, make wills, get jobs, and free slaves. Romans tried to make their families grow by marriage, adoption, and divorce.

Some wealthy Roman families had slaves. In some households, slaves were treated kindly, but in others, they were treated harshly. The slaves took care of everything in the household.

Roman Hairstyles and Clothing:

Roman Men:
Hairstyles and beards varied with the times. In early Roman times, men wore long hair and full beards. For a while, they were clean-shaven with short hair. About 1 AD, they had started to style their hair, and wear beards again. The only jewelry that Roman men wore was rings. If a man wore one ring, it was a sign that he had good manners.

Roman Women:
The ancient Roman women loved ornate necklaces, pins, earrings, bracelets, friendship rings, and pearls. They used false hairpieces to make their hair thicker or longer. Sometimes, Roman women wore their hair up in carefully arranged styles held with jeweled hairpins. Sometimes they wore it down, curled in ringlets. Most of the Roman women dyed their hair a golden red. Women's street shoes were made of leather, like those of men. In the house, most Romans (men and women) wore sandals.

Roman Boys:
Boys wore a tunic down to their knees. Once a boy became a man, he put aside his childish clothes, and wore an all-white tunic. A boy became a citizen at age 16 or 17. It was a great celebration.

Roman Girls:
Girls wore a tunic with a belt at the waist. When they went outside, they had to wear a tunic that reached their feet.

Children wore a special locket around their neck, given to them at birth, called a bulla. It was a protection against evil and was worn as a chain, strap, or cord. Girls wore their bulla until the eve of their wedding day, when their bulla was set aside with other childhood things. Boys wore their bulla until they day they became a citizen.

Marriage:
Marriage in Roman times was more of a personal agreement between families. As sons reached their mid-twenties and daughters their early teens, spouses were chosen by their parents with an eye towards improving the family's financial position or class.