Rodgers N. Life in Ancient Rome

London: Southwater, 2007. — 128 p. — ISBN-13 978-1844763849.The magnificent world of ancient Rome is revealed through the lives and works of its many citizens, freedmen and slaves as well as through its art, architecture and daily social routines. Explore the classical heritage of the Roman empire in this in-depth and interesting history of its culture and society.
Real letters, histories, records and artworks show how people lived during this fascinating time. Daily life in the Roman empire is recorded in contemporary accounts of street life, sports and wild beast games in the arenas and Colosseum, and through the culture of the baths, the theater and the forum. The woman's narrow world of home is described in accounts of childhood, courtship, and marriage.
Life two thousand years ago is also shown through the wall paintings of Pompeii and Herculaneum, preserved under layers of volcanic ash, and in the colorful mosaics and antique statues, preserved today in many Roman buildings, and the remains of the great sporting arenas, amphitheaters and villas.
Rome and the Roman empire shaped the development of the western world by sucking in raw material, goods and people from around the Mediterranean and farther afield. Its traders explored new routes across the known world, bringing back grain, oil, animals and exotic goods. Here we learn about the impacts and consequences of these new trading systems, and the way they shaped the Roman world, which in turn shaped our world today.
The social, cultural and trading history of the Roman world is brought together, illustrated and retold in a clear and accessible way, perfect for anyone interested in one of the cultural peaks of the ancient world, and for students, school projects and home study.