What Was Normal Life Like In Ancient Rome? | Absolute History

Rome would never have made it into the history books without the backing of its huge military apparatus. The life and the incredible luxury the ancient city of over a million inhabitants enjoyed was only made possible through the exploitation of its colonies, a course of action that never would have been possible without its troops.

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[artandminisbyvilma]

"They were dark and noisy, but the tenants were still forced to pay exorbitant rents". Sounds like San Francisco!

[melindaweasenforth]

I've learned more about history from these channels than anything I learned from grade school, middle school, high school and even college. This is how the modern world should handle schools

[SaysThisCat]

So the landlord special is as old as Rome. Excellent.

[yankeetherebel]

11:40 that's so amazing! I'm sure the archaeologists working there are used to it, but seeing so much physical pieces of thousands of years old history is amazing!

[megret]

The word ‘bankrupt’ comes from this time. A ‘bancus’ was the table on which a vendor displayed his wares. ‘Ruptus’ was to break. If the vendor broke the law his table was broken

[frereM]

The narrator, through attractive voice quality and careful emphasis, adds greatly to this presentation. Well done!

[Seventeen_Syllables]

I actually understood some of the Latin! It's been half a century since I studied it. Miss Morgan would be proud.

[maxgreen]

Life wasn't so different back then, except without internet and information easily available to the masses.

[verge]

Rome's history is written in blood? EVERY nation's history is written in blood.

[LindaCasey]

The more things change, the more things stay the same.

[jaelge]

Eight minutes in he´s telling us how low quality the insulae (apartments) were built, with little concern for quality and tended to fall down, all while standing in one that has lasted two thousand years.

[LauraSoly]

I thought the current consensus on gladiatorial combat was that it was rarely to the death, since gladiators were highly trained, specialized athletes whose skills took years to develop. Criminals and the like were put to death there, yes, but that was a different situation.

[greatunclestroller]

Short answer: better than the middle ages

[svetlanaandrasova]

If history in schools was taught like this kids would all have good grades and know a lot more

[crystalcastillo]

Its so funny to me how even back in these tenant buildings had the 'landlord special' where the "cracks in the walls were painted over, & not repaired..", I guess we are not so different after all....

[mattmcintosh]

"None were so bloodthirsty than the Romans" except maybe all the other European tribes of people who practised ritual sacrifice and gladiatorial combat as part of their belief and justice systems, or the Carthegenians who sacrificed their own children. I think Romans were fairly tame compared to their contemporary counterparts.

[Basauri]

I love these documentaries but still have to comment on the thick German accents of the actors; I just burst out laughing when Drusus started shouting at Petronius in his best führer style. Having said that, fair play to them for having to learn their lines in Latin, unlike your typical American produced show where they all speak English. A small detail in the scheme of things but says a lot about the care that went into producing this.

[c.jameshansis]

I was in Rome and Pompeii and it was mind blowing. I say a lot of the places I was at.
GOOD show.

[reginaromsey]

Fascinating! Oil amphora smashed because they couldn’t be cleaned. As the Jewish law required wine to be put in new wine skins.
If some Roman had figured a way to use the amphora shards he would have had a continuous supply!

[LeekoKenney]

35:00 it’s crazy to think that the surgeons house in Pompeii was excavated in 1926 which feels like a long time ago but when you look at that 97 years relative to thousands of years that come before 1926 in Rome it’s nothing!