Roman Patricians and Plebians

• Roman society consisted of patricians, plebians, and slaves.

Roman Patricians

• Patricians were wealthy landowners and powerful members of Roman society.
• They resided in private houses known as domus, as well as large country houses called villas.
• Patricians wore white tunics made from expensive linen or silk.
• Their diet included two meals a day, with breakfast consisting of bread, fruit, and cheese.
• The main meal (cena) comprised three courses, featuring eggs, olives, smoked fish, boar's head, lobster, honey cakes, and fruit.

Roman Plebians

• Plebians were poor, working-class members of Roman society, working as farmers, craftsmen, and shopkeepers.
• They lived in cramped apartment blocks called insulae, which were prone to fires.
• Plebians consumed simple meals such as lentil and barley soup, and meat stewed in vinegar.
• Very poor people received free grain from the Roman government through a Dole.
• Plebians wore dark-colored tunics made from cheap material such as wool.

Roman Slaves

• Approximately 20% of the Roman population were slaves, owned by others and forced to work.
• Slaves were captured soldiers or people taken from conquered lands.
• They performed various roles, including cooking, serving, teaching, fighting as gladiators, and farming.
• Some slaves who served well could earn their freedom through a process called manumission.

Women in Ancient Rome

• Women in Roman society faced challenging lives, regardless of their social class.
• They were expected to obey their husbands and were often married off at a young age.
• While some girls from wealthy families received education, it usually stopped at the basic level.
• Roman women had large families, but childbirth was risky, leading to a low life expectancy.

Roman Towns and Cities

• Roman towns and cities were well-planned, following a grid pattern similar to Ancient Greek cities.
• Rome, along with cities such as Barcelona, London, Frankfurt, and Dubrovnik, were founded by the Romans.
• Towns had defensive walls with four entry gates and a central forum surrounded by important public buildings.
• Streets were well-paved, accommodating pedestrians, carts, and chariots, with pavements providing safe pathways.

Entertainment in Ancient Rome

• Gladiator contests were held in arenas like the Colosseum, which could hold around 60,000 spectators.
• Chariot racing was a popular sport held in the Circus Maximus, with people betting on the winners.
• Roman baths were common in towns and cities, serving as meeting places with separate bathing areas for men and women.

The Roman Army

• The Roman army was crucial for maintaining the empire.
• Soldiers, called legionnaires, fought on foot and horseback, undergoing rigorous training and following strict discipline.
• Severe punishments, including decimation, were enforced for breaking the rules.
• After serving for about 20 to 25 years, soldiers received land for retirement.

Health and Medicine in Ancient Rome

• Galen, a famous Roman doctor, made medical discoveries and some mistakes, believing that an imbalance of four fluids caused sickness.
• Roman medical treatments included bloodletting, using boiled liver for eye pain, cabbage for wounds, garlic for heart health, fennel for calming nerves, and dried camel's brain for epilepsy.
• Romans emphasized hygiene and built aqueducts to provide clean water to their cities.

The Achievements of Ancient Rome

• Christianity, originating in Rome, became the dominant religion in Europe, with Rome remaining the center of the Catholic Church.
• The Roman language, Latin, influenced modern European languages such as English, French, Spanish, and German.
• Roman architecture, featuring rounded arches and pillars, is evident in buildings like the GPO and the White House.
• Roman construction techniques, including concrete, ensured the longevity of structures like the Pantheon and Colosseum.
• The Julian calendar, introduced by Julius Caesar, forms the basis of our current calendar with twelve months and 365 days.
• Roman law, considered the "art of goodness and equity," laid the groundwork for modern legal systems.
• Modern civil law draws heavily from the Twelve Tables of Ancient Rome.