Table of Contents
Preface xi
Chapter 1 A Short History of the Empire 1
The Monarchy 1
The Early Republic 2
The Fall of the Republic 3
The Empire 3
The Late Empire 5
Chapter 2 The Structure of Society 7
Citizenship 7
Defining the Aristocracy: Birth and Wealth 13
The Poor 17
Chapter 3 Virtue and Vice 21
Roman Virtue 21
Exemplary Virtues 29
Social versus Legal Constraints 32
Moral Decay and Its Ramifications 33
Examples of Vice 36
Chapter 4 The Family 40
The Familia and the Paterfamilias 40
Marriage 45
Divorce, Adultery, and Marital Problems 52
Chapter 5 Women 59
The Traditional View of Roman Women 59
Male Control of Women 66
Negative Depictions of Women 69
Empowered Women 74
Chapter 6 Children 79
Constraints on Population Growth 79
Birth and Infancy 85
Childhood 88
Education 89
Roman Pets 97
Chapter 7 Slaves 99
The Institution of Slavery 99
Rural Slaves 101
Urban Slaves 103
The Treatment of Slaves 107
Freedmen 117
Chapter 8 Three Cities in Italy 121
Rome 121
Ostia 129
Pompeii 133
Chapter 9 The Urban Experience 142
Literary Scenes of Busy Streets 142
Graffiti from Pompeii 144
Chapter 10 Housing 151
The Parts of a Roman Aristocratic House 151
Apartments 157
Country Villas 161
Chapter 11 Neighborhoods, Water, Sanitation, and the Grain Supply 164
Neighborhoods 164
Aqueducts and the Water Supply 169
Sewers and Latrines 172
The Grain Supply 174
Chapter 12 The Daily Routine 181
Descriptions of the Day's Routine 181
Waking Up 184
The Ornatrix 188
The Morning Salutatio 194
Chapter 13 Business and Occupations 198
Workers 199
Shops and Workshops 206
The Fuller 208
Chapter 14 Religion 211
The Roman Gods 211
Cult and Worship 213
Priests 216
Temples 219
Sacrifice and Ritual 222
The Growth of Christianity 226
Chapter 15 The Army 229
The Army of the Republic 229
The Army of the Imperial Period 235
Chapter 16 Life in the Country 244
Glimpses of Country Life 244
The Rustic Labor Force 252
Chapter 17 The Baths 256
The Bath Complex 257
The Bathing Ritual 265
Chapter 18 Dinner Parties 272
The Triclinium 272
Invitations to Aristocratic Dinners 274
Luxurious Dinner Parties 278
Chapter 19 Bars and Inns 283
Eating and Drinking Establishments 283
Inns 290
Chapter 20 Public Entertainment: The Theater and Circus 294
The Theater 294
The Circus and Chariot Racing 300
Chapter 21 Public Entertainment: The Amphitheater 309
The History of Amphitheatrical Games 309
The Amphitheater 312
Gladiators 316
Gladiatorial Combat 320
Glossary 324
Works Quoted 331
Bibliography 338
Index 343