The City in the Roman Empire

Mackley, Daniel. The City in the Roman Empire. Part of the Life in the Roman Empire series. 2017. 80p. ISBN 978-1-5026-2259-4. Available at 307.76 MAC on the library shelves.

As the model for every city in the Roman Empire, Rome stood at the height of urban development not equalled until the Industrial Age. Roman cities had many features recognizable to a person living today, from fresh running water piped to fountains and baths throughout the city to paved roads and sewer systems. Restaurants and shops lined the streets, while large apartment complexes stretched up to seven stories in the sky. Entertainment facilities such as amphitheatres and arenas allowed the citizens to relax and enjoy themselves.

Without artificial lighting powerful enough to banish the night, most Romans awoke at dawn and were out and about until dusk, when the city became unsafe. The average Roman, who lived to be 27, worked in the morning and returned home for lunch, followed by an afternoon of entertainment at the baths, libraries, or in public places with friends. Men, women, and slaves all had leisure time build in their schedules. A myriad of public holidays ensured that the workweek was never too long.

Most citizens lived in apartments with no cooking facilities due to the risk of fire. They ate out, or enjoyed a meal of cold beans and bread. Dangers such as fire and natural disasters could wipe out cities in a manner of hours. The cost of living was high in Rome, and work could be hard to get. A prelude to the feudal system, most Romans had a patron that took care of them. In exchange they accomplished small tasks for them.

Though Roman life was hard, living in a city could provide significant enjoyment for its residents. It wasn’t until the growth of London and Paris in the 1700s that Rome’s population of over one million people was finally exceeded in the Western world.

Other titles in this series include The Countryside in the Roman Empire, Patricians in the Roman Empire, and Religion in the Roman Empire.