Ancient rome

             Rome's cities were the greatest of the ancient world, and many cities have survived and become modern metropolises. Others did not survive, such as the buried city of Pompeii, whose destruction by volcanic ash froze it in time for over a thousand years. Aspects of everyday life can be seen from Roman cities- the social, economic, political, and religious.
             The most obvious Roman social custom that can be studied through archaeology is the attraction to huge spectacle entertainments. Pompeii had its own amphitheater long before the capital city did. This custom seems to have begun in the provinces. Large public buildings were filled with people ready to see gladiatorial fights, Greek dramas, public executions, and chariot races. The games in Rome were only held on certain days, decided by the emperor, but people were very passionate about their favorite racing teams and gladiators all the same. The spectacles were also places where people could shout petitions to the emperor, gamble on the races, and flirt with one another. As celebrated by the poet Ovid, the sexes were not segregated at the racetrack. In terms of cleanliness, every city would have one or more public baths. The Romans were very clean people. Their bathhouses included a warm room, a hot room, and a cold room. Baths were segregated by male or female, but as far as we can tell, public toilets were not.
             In regards to economics, Pompeii's main trade was the wool trade, although it also was a producer of wine. Eumachia made her fortune in the wool trade and was the richest woman in Pompeii. She built the building that housed the business, and a statue in her likeness was discovered in it. Other cities and provinces throughout the empire provided other products, such as: glass from Italy, purple dye from Tyre, and grain from Egypt. The fertile Nile Valley was the breadbasket of the empire. The vast empire used money to trade, and not a barter s...

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