What Was Normal Life Like In Ancient Rome? | Absolute History

Alice Loxton introduces herself as the presenter of documentaries on History Hit TV, a platform similar to Netflix but dedicated to historical content. She invites viewers to sign up using a discount code. The paragraph then transports us back over 2000 years to the rise of the first great European capital cities around the Mediterranean. These cities were crowded and dynamic, with flourishing arts, commerce, and sciences. They competed for power and influence by constructing grand buildings and attracting diverse populations seeking prosperity. Rome, during the 2nd century AD, stood out as the most powerful and populous city, with a million inhabitants. It was also notorious for its ruthlessness and bloodthirstiness. The Coliseum, capable of holding 50,000 spectators, was a testament to Rome's grandeur and the brutal entertainment of gladiatorial games, where 52,000 gladiators lost their lives during its 100-day inauguration. Drusis, captain of the city cohort, is depicted as the enforcer of law and order, pursuing criminals like the unscrupulous trader Petronius. Archaeologists excavate simple buildings to understand the lives of ordinary people, highlighting the similarities between ancient and modern urban life.

German archaeologist Richard Noydecker is searching for signs of everyday life in ancient Rome, focusing on insulae, the world's first large tenement blocks. These multi-story buildings were cramped and expensive, housing people who came to Rome seeking fortune. The scarcity of living space and high land prices led to narrow, dark, and noisy living conditions. The poor had to share accommodations with strangers, forming communities out of necessity. The cityscape was characterized by high-rise tenement blocks and narrow alleys. Drusis, Rome's policeman, is depicted as a respected and feared figure, heading to Trajan's Forum market to catch a trader who has been cheating on taxes. The history of Rome is described as being written in blood, with its founding myth involving the murder of Remus by his brother Romulus. Rome expanded from an Etruscan village to an empire that spanned from Britain to North Africa and the Black Sea.

The Roman legions established splendid cities wherever they went, with the elite of conquered lands living in affluence, emulating their Roman masters. In Rome, the scale of everything was even grander. The imperial palaces on the Palatine Hill were a symbol of luxury and extravagance. Roman lifestyle set an example for the entire empire. However, financing such luxury is revealed through shards found at Monte Testaccio, Rome's eighth hill, which was essentially a giant tip. Jose Remasal and his team of archaeologists uncover the history of Roman trade and the tributes from the provinces through the shards of shattered amphoras that once contained provisions like olive oil from Hispania. The amphoras' fragments and inscriptions tell the story of how Rome was supplied with food and materials. The archaeologists piece together a vast trade center that once supplied the city with a variety of goods.

The narrative focuses on the Roman trade of garum, a fermented fish sauce used as a spice, and the reuse of wine amphoras versus the disposal of oil amphoras due to cleaning difficulties. Trade was booming, but so were swindling, smuggling, and fraud. Petronius, a trader dealing in oil and wine, is highlighted for his illicit activities, including tax evasion and falsifying documents. Drusis, a centurion, is closing in on Petronius, who is eventually caught due to evidence from amphora seals. The importance of tax revenue is underscored by the Roman tax system's rigor and the marking of every amphora to prevent theft. Petronius's capture signifies the end of his fraudulent activities, and the paragraph concludes with the reality of Roman slaves whose labor supported the upper class's comfortable lifestyle.

The text describes the Roman seaport of Austria, where ships from across the Mediterranean would dock. It mentions a sensational discovery in Pisa, where construction workers found a Roman port during excavations for a new railway station. The site has been preserved due to the muddy ground that kept the air away from the timbers, allowing the preservation of entire Roman ships and their cargos. The archaeologists in Pisa are presented as fortunate due to the ideal conditions for preserving materials like wood. The find includes unique objects such as a piece of leather and a brush from the ship's hold. The ships are carefully preserved with a steel framework and resin treatment before being transported to museum workshops. The paragraph also discusses the importance of sea trade for the tribute payments that sustained Rome.

The focus shifts to the Coliseum, where the architectural historian Heinz Jurgen Bester has studied the structures beneath the arena floor. These structures were part of a complex stage machinery that could release wild animals for the spectacles. The Coliseum hosted over a hundred performances a year, requiring sensational acts to maintain public interest. The stage crew, soldiers, slaves, and animal tamers worked hard below the arena's wooden floor to create the illusion of miraculous events for the spectators. The emperor used the Coliseum to gauge public sentiment, being as close to the people as possible. The text also touches on the darker side of these entertainments, where the combatants faced brutal deaths. Despite the cruelty, the games were a popular form of entertainment. The narrative contrasts the highly trained and celebrated gladiators who could achieve wealth and fame with the prisoners forced to fight to the death for the amusement of the crowd.

The narrative moves to the Roman Forum, where temples, senate meetings, and high society gatherings took place. It discusses the city's sewerage system, the Cloaca Maxima, which was already in place over two thousand years ago, and the challenges of maintaining hygiene in the face of Rome's water demands. The aqueducts, an invention of the Romans, brought millions of liters of water into the city daily, but the sewage and rubbish often ended up in the streets. The text highlights the Roman ingenuity in engineering but also the practical problems of managing a large urban center. The sewers were lit by oil lamps and required regular cleaning to prevent blockages. The city's water supply was also a source of disease, leading to the use of home remedies like cabbage for various ailments.

The baths were the health centers of Roman cities, where most Romans spent their afternoons after work, engaging in sports, bathing, or getting a massage. The baths provided an escape from the city's hustle and served as a social hub. The Roman Museum of Archaeology is mentioned as housing a vast collection of artworks and everyday objects from ancient Rome. Specialists work to preserve this heritage, which includes marble statues commissioned by wealthy Romans to decorate their homes. The museum's collection reflects the splendor of the city and the lives of those who lived in its shadows. The Romans' fondness for surrounding themselves with beautiful things is evident, even in their daily use objects. The text also touches on the economic aspect, where money could buy anything, including votes and official positions.

The narrative returns to the Coliseum, describing the complex stage machinery that could release wild animals for the spectacles. The Coliseum's performances were a crucial part of keeping the public engaged, with the emperor using the crowd's behavior as a gauge of public sentiment. The text describes the harsh reality of the gladiatorial games, where prisoners had to fight wild animals for the amusement of the crowd. It contrasts the celebrated status of skilled gladiators with the grim fate of those who were sentenced to die in the arena. The paragraph concludes with Petronius, who has cheated the emperor and now awaits his turn to face the wild beasts, highlighting the merciless nature of Roman justice and the entertainment of the masses.

The final paragraph reflects on the urban challenges faced by Rome, the first city in history with a million inhabitants. It discusses the problems of traffic congestion, housing shortages, and crime, which are still relevant in modern cities. The text notes that these issues existed in the past, persist in the present, and will likely continue in the future. It concludes with a nod to the Roman Empire's longevity and the enduring legacy of its center, the great city of Rome.