The purpose of this activity is to give you an idea of some of the aspects of Roman life. The websites have been carefully chosen to interest you and the questions challenge you. Good luck and have fun learning about Roman Life! Site revised July, 2011.

Sites to Explore

The Roman Kingdom Questions:

1. What roles did the Roman monarch fill and how was his power limited?
2. What did a man have to prove to become a citizen of Rome?
3. What were the differences between the plebeians and the patricians?

1. Why did slaves often serve as the teachers of Roman children?
2. How was writing taught in the elementary schools?
3. How did the Grammar School acquire its name and what determined the level of instruction in it?

1. In what ways were the Roman baths similar to modern spas and community centers?
2. What were the 'balneae' and the 'thermae', and how were they different?
3. What were the 'strigil', the 'caldarium', and the 'frigidarium'?

1. How did the design of the Circus Maximus change over the years?
2. How many chariot racing companies were there and how were their factions identified?
3. Why was it common for charioteers to die young?

1. What would be the fate of a 'dreadfully deformed' child?
2. What was the penalty for treason?
3. What was the penalty for giving false witness (lying under oath)?

1. What circumstances led to the Roman army being the most efficient in the world?
2. Describe the Roman army tactic called the 'testula.'
3. Why would the poorer people choose a career in the army?

1. How many aqueducts were built to service Rome and what was the greatest distance they covered?
2. How was excess water used?
3. How much of Rome's aqueduct system actually crossed over valleys on stone arches?

1. What were the dimensions (height and length) of Hadrian's Wall?
2. What were the two main building materials used in Hadrian's Wall?
3. What archeological find was made at Vindolanda in 1973 that provided further insight into life along Hadrian's Wall?

1. For what purposes, besides bathing, would people go to the baths?
2. What happened in the unctuarium, the tepidarium, the caldarium, and the frigidarium?
3. What was the Hypocaust system?

1. How many people could be accommodated at the Baths of Caracalla at one time?
2. What kinds of exercises would the Romans engage in before entering the baths?
3. What was 'strigiling?'

Conclusion

While exploring this sampler on Roman Life, we hope you had fun, learned, and most importantly connected with some part of this topic. Teachers and students feel free to use this site for your studies and e-mail me if you find any errors or to suggest other sites or topics.