practices we would think absolutely crazy. At the head of the household was the

paterfamilias; the oldest male member. This man ruled over everything until his death.

This included all property, earnings, the choosing of marriage partners, and the power of

life and death. Girls were married at a young age and had to supply a dowry that would

be returned if divorced. Like today, divorce, adultery, abortion, and birth control not

uncommon in ancient Rome. Although many of their methods were ridiculous.

Childhood ended at an earlier age than it does now. They would start school

around the age of six or seven. Secondary education was thought of mostly for boys

because girls should be married and taking care of a household by that age. This lasted till

about thirteen or fourteen, then they were finished with school.

Family slaves were fairly well off. They were allowed to eventually buy their

freedom from money that they accumulated but often would remain in the same house

with their family after freed. Some of the slaves that tutored the children were often more

goats, and often pigs. They kept honey bees for the ancient world’s sugar. Their work

The regular soldiers all had a decent pay, but the Praetorian Guard’s pay was a lot

The first step of promotion was into specialties such as clerk, armorer, orderly, or

Although most of the farms were huge operations, there were still peasants around

maids, gardeners, or nurses, they now worked in mines and fields. It didn’t all change

Some topics in this essay:
Romans Livestock, Family Roman, Soldier Romans, Praetorian Guard’s, sheep goats, armed forces, grain vines, girls married,