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Raatma
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Ancient Rome
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by Lucia Raatma
 by Lucia Raatma

Content Adviser: Michael Danti, Ph.D., Research Specialist,

Near East Section, University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia

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Table of Contents
Visit Compass Point Books on the Internet at www.compasspointbooks.com or e-mail your
request to custserv@compasspointbooks.com What Was Ancient Rome? 5
Cover: Colosseum, Rome, Italy Who Were the Ancient Romans? 7
Photographs ©: Dallas and John Heaton/Corbis, cover; Stock Montage, 6, 14, 18, 20; North Wind Picture
Archives, 8, 10, 12, 16. What Kind of Daily Life Did They Have? 9
Editors: E. Russell Primm, Emily J. Dolbear, and Pam Rosenberg
Photo Researcher: Svetlana Zhurkina
What Was the Religion of Ancient Rome? 11
Photo Selector: Linda S. Koutris
Designer: Melissa Voda What Did Romans Do for Fun? 13
Cartographer: XNR Productions, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

What Kind of Government Did They Have? 15
Raatma, Lucia.
Ancient Rome / by Lucia Raatma. What Kind of Work Did They Do? 17
p. cm. — (Let’s see library)
Summary: Describes the history, government, people, culture, aspects of daily life, and enduring legacy of
ancient Rome. Includes bibliographical references and index. What Arts Were Important in Ancient Rome? 19
ISBN 0-7565-0292-6
1. Rome—Civilization—Juvenile literature. [1. Rome—Civilization.] I. Title. II. Series.
DG77 .R16 2002
How Do We Remember Ancient Rome? 21
937—dc21 2002003040
Glossary 22
Did You Know? 22

© 2003 by Compass Point Books

Want to Know More? 23
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The publisher takes no
responsibility for the use of any of the materials or methods described in this book, nor for the products thereof.
Printed in the United States of America.
Index 24
 What Was Ancient Rome?

North
N
Palatine Hill is one of seven hills along the Tiber
Sea
W E
River. The Tiber River runs into the Tyrrhenian Sea.
S
ATLANTIC
E U R O P E
There, a little village began as a farming commu-
OCEAN Ca

Tiber
sp
ia nity. This is where the city of Rome was started

n
River

Sea
a
ck Se around 753 B.C. A famous story tells that twin
Bla
Rome
Pompeii brothers named Romulus and Remus founded the
ITALY M I D D L E
E A S T city of Rome.
Med
iterra
nean Sea
Over hundreds of years, the city grew to
become the Roman Empire. That empire included
Re all of Italy and about half of Europe. It also
A F R I C A d
City
included the northern part of Africa and a large
Se
a
Greatest extent of 0 300 600 miles
the Roman Empire
0 300 600 kilometers
part of the Middle East.

The city of Rome was the center of the Roman Empire.

¶
4 5
 Who Were the Ancient Romans?

Some ancient Romans were more important than

others. Members of government and their fami-
lies were in this important group. Rich people
who owned land were also included. Most other
people were farmers and soldiers. Some people
were slaves.
In Rome, men and women wore simple
clothes called tunics. Men wore togas over their
tunics. Togas and tunics were draped over the
Romans’ bodies like big sheets. Men’s clothing
was usually white, but upper-class men often had
a purple border on their togas.

An ancient Roman soldier holds a spear and shield.

¶
6 7
 What Kind of Daily Life
Did They Have?
Wealthy Romans lived in large houses with
many servants. They enjoyed big meals. They
ate vegetables with meat or fish, and sweet
cakes for dessert. People in the city lived in
crowded apartment buildings. Country people
lived in small houses. These working-class
Romans usually ate bread, fruit, and cheese.
Roman families were usually large. Most
children were taught at home by their parents.
Children from wealthy families went to school
when they were older. There they studied Latin,
mathematics, public speaking, and music.

Wealthy Romans often had big houses with fancy gardens.

¶
8 9
 What Was the Religion
of Ancient Rome?
In ancient Rome, most people worshiped several
gods and goddesses. Jupiter was the god of the
sky. He was the most important god to the
Romans. Ceres was the goddess of farming and
the harvest. Venus was the goddess of love,
while Mars was the god of war. Diana was the
goddess of hunting. The Romans built temples
to honor these gods.
Over time, the Romans became interested
in other religions. Some Romans became
Christians. The Christians often faced brutal
cruelty in ancient Rome.

A mask of Jupiter, the Roman god of the sky

¶
10 11
 What Did Romans Do for Fun?

The people of ancient Rome enjoyed holidays.

On holidays they often went to events at the
Colosseum. The Colosseum was a large outdoor
theater. Some violent games took place there.
Men called gladiators battled each other until
one of them died. At chariot races, the crowds
cheered for the drivers.
Public bathhouses were popular places to
relax. There people bathed in steam baths and
indoor pools.

Chariot races took place at the Circus Maximus and other large arenas.

¶
12 13
 What Kind of Government
Did They Have?
In the beginning, Rome was ruled by kings. These
kings worked with members of the Senate to
make laws. Roman citizens could meet and vote
on the laws. Only men could be citizens, though.
In 27 B.C. that system changed. The Roman
Republic became the Roman Empire. The king
was replaced by an emperor. The emperors did
not work well with the Senate. Citizens had little
control over the government. Many of the
emperors were very powerful. They helped the
Roman Empire become very large.

Julius Caesar was a famous Roman general and leader. He was killed in 44 B . C .

¶
14 15
 What Kind of Work Did They Do?

Most people in ancient Rome were farmers. They

grew wheat, barley, grapes, and olives. They raised
sheep, goats, pigs, and other animals. Children
often worked on the family farms.
Roman merchants imported food, silk, ivory,
and other goods. Also, mines throughout the
empire produced marble, gold, and silver. Roman
ships carried all these goods down huge rivers and
across the Mediterranean Sea.
Some ancient Romans worked in the Forum. This
area was the center of the city of Rome. It included
markets, temples, and government buildings.

The Forum was a busy place at the center of the city of Rome.

¶
16 17
 What Arts Were Important
in Ancient Rome?
Architecture was important in ancient Rome.
Roman buildings often had arches, covered
walkways, and large courtyards. The Romans
invented concrete. This material helped them
build strong walls.
Romans enjoyed poetry and plays. One
famous poem, the Aeneid, tells the story of
Rome. It was written by the poet Virgil.
Painting and sculpture were important to
the Romans. Large wall paintings decorated the
homes of the wealthy. Many statues showed
famous people or historical events.

The Pantheon was a temple in ancient Rome. It was rebuilt in the

¶
18 second century and still stands today. 19
 How Do We Remember
Ancient Rome?
We remember Rome as a mighty empire. Many
modern farmers still use ideas from Roman farms.
Some modern governments are based on the
Roman system. Designs for Roman bridges, roads,
and aqueducts are often studied when modern
ones are built.
We have learned about Rome through writ-
ten records, paintings, and statues. Roman towns
and cities have taught us a lot. The city of Pompeii
was buried when a nearby volcano erupted.
Scientists uncovered this city and others. All these
things teach us about life in ancient Rome.

The Colosseum can still be seen by visitors in the modern city of Rome.

¶
20 21
 Glossary
aqueducts—large bridges built to carry water across a valley
architecture—designing buildings
chariot—a two-wheeled cart pulled by horses
empire—several countries ruled by the same government
gladiators—fighters who battled each other or wild animals until
one of them died
imported—brought in from another place
republic—a government that allows citizens to elect representatives
Senate—the supreme council of ancient Rome
Want to Know More?
At the Library
Ganeri, Anita. The Ancient Romans. Austin, Tex.: Raintree/Steck-Vaughn, 2000.
Gerrard, Ray. Roman Twins. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1998.
Hewitt, Sally. The Romans. Danbury, Conn.: Children’s Press, 1995.
Jay, David. Read About Ancient Romans. Brookfield, Conn.: Millbrook Press, 2000.
On the Web
History for Kids
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/romans/index.htm
To find out more about life in ancient Rome
The Romans
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/romans/home.html
To learn more about the history of Rome through reading and activities

servants—people who take care of the household chores and per- Through the Mail
The Museum of Classical Archaeology
sonal needs of others
University of Cambridge
Sedgwick Avenue
Did You Know? Cambridge CB3 9DA
United Kingdom
• The Roman’s name for the Mediterranean Sea was Mare To learn about their Roman exhibits
Nostrum. These Latin words mean “Our Sea.” On the Road
• The city of Rome was the largest city in the Roman Empire. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art
1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street
one point, ancient Rome was home to almost 1 million people. New York, NY 10028-0198
212/535-7710
• Many of the Roman gods were similar to the Greek gods. They
To see the collection of Roman art
just had different names.

22 23
 Index
Aeneid (poem), 19 kings, 15
architecture, 19 Palatine Hill, 5
art, 19 people, 7
bathhouses, 13 Pompeii, 21
chariots, 13 religion, 11
clothes, 7 Remus, 5
Colosseum, 13 Romulus, 5
emperors, 15 schools, 9
families, 9, 17 Senate, 15
farming, 11, 17, 21 temples, 11
foods, 9 Tiber River, 5
Forum, 17 togas, 7
gladiators, 13 tunics, 7
government, 15, 21 Virgil (poet), 19
houses, 9

About the Author

Lucia Raatma received her bachelor’s degree in English literature
from the University of South Carolina and her master’s degree in
cinema studies from New York University. She has written a wide
range of books for young people. When she is not researching or
writing, she enjoys going to movies, playing tennis, practicing
yoga, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and golden
retriever. She lives in New York.

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