{"id":2083,"date":"2023-03-09T16:12:43","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T15:12:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=2083"},"modified":"2023-03-09T16:12:43","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T15:12:43","slug":"how-did-the-poor-ancient-romans-live","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/how-did-the-poor-ancient-romans-live\/","title":{"rendered":"How did the poor ancient romans live?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The ancient Romans were a complex people, their lives full of nuance and contradiction. The Roman poor were no different. Though their lives were far from easy, the ancient Roman poor managed to make do with what they had. Through hard work and resourcefulness, they were able to eke out a living, albeit a modest one.<\/p>\n

Though their lives were far from easy, the ancient Roman poor made do with what they had. Through hard work and resourcefulness, they were able to eke out a living, albeit a modest one. The Roman poor were mostly employed in manual labor, such as farming, fishing, and brickmaking. Many of them also worked as artisans, such as weavers and blacksmiths. Others worked in service industries, such as cooking and cleaning.<\/p>\n

Life was hard for the Roman poor. They often had to work long hours in difficult and dangerous conditions. They did not have much in the way of material possessions and often lived in cramped and unsanitary conditions. But despite all of these hardships, the Roman poor managed to make a life for themselves and their families.<\/p>\n

The ancient Romans were a complex and varied people, and their lives were just as varied. The lives of the rich were, of course, very different from those of the poor. The rich could afford to live in grand houses with many servants, while the poor had to make do with whatever shelter they could find. The poor also had to work much harder than the rich, with most of them having to labor in the fields or in shops. Life was not easy for the poor ancient Romans, but they made the best of it.<\/p>\n

What did poor people do in Ancient Rome? <\/h2>\n
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The poor people during the Roman Empire generally had to work as unskilled laborers. They would go around looking for work each day, and would perform a variety of menial tasks. They were known as mercenarius, which is the modern equivalent of the word “mercenary.” This meant that they worked for money, rather than for other reasons.<\/p>\n

Most poor people in Rome lived in blocks of flats called insulae. These were usually at least five stories high, but they were often badly built, and their walls sometimes cracked and roofs caved in. Most people lived in just one or two rooms.<\/p>\n

How were living conditions different for rich and poor Romans <\/h3>\n

If you were richer, you would most likely live in a larger home called a domus. These domus usually had many rooms surrounding an atrium, which was a room in the center of the house with an open roof. Poor Romans who lived in the countryside would live in shacks or cottages, while rich Romans would live in large, sprawling villas.<\/p>\n

Most people in Roman times did not have much spare time, they were too busy working. They liked board games. We know this because archaeologists have found counters and dice in the ground. The Romans enjoyed watching fights between gladiators, and fights between people and animals.<\/p>\n

Did poor Romans go to school? <\/h2>\n
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While the poor in Ancient Rome did not receive a formal education, many still learned to read and write. Children from rich families, however, were well schooled and were taught by a private tutor at home or went to what we would recognise as schools.<\/p>\n

Education has always been a privilege of the wealthy. The rich could afford to send their children to private schools or hire tutors, while the poor had to rely on slaves or public schools. This disparity has led to a divide in society, with the wealthy being better educated and more likely to succeed than the poor.<\/p>\n

What were poor Roman homes like? <\/h2>\n

The Poor Romans lived in simple flats which were called insulae. They often only contained one or two rooms. There was no running water.<\/p>\n

The practice of selling oneself or one’s child into slavery was not unknown among the poor of Rome. The disabled population, in particular, often had to rely on the goodwill of others to survive. Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman historian, wrote that the Roman poor often lived in buildings’ crevices, tabernae, or vaults beneath theaters or circuses.<\/p>\n

How did the Romans deal with homelessness <\/h3>\n
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The homeless population in Rome was quite large and they often slept in places that were not meant for sleeping. This includes under the stairs of insulae, between the columns of porticos, and along the Tiber. While the city of Rome was very wealthy, the homeless population was still very prevalent.<\/p>\n

The poor of Rome were called Plebeians. They had no political rights and were treated as slaves.