Destiny Feggins
HIS-111
Quality of Life in Ancient Rome
Within these two articles, “Pleasures and Excess in the Roman Empire” by Paul Veyne and “Slums, Sanitation, and Mortality in the Roman World” by Alexis Scobie, we learn about the history of how the Roman society worked as well as gain insight through the theories created in what could have possibly been going on in the everyday life of Roman citizens. We get to delve in the social scales of the people including how/ where they lived and what they were capable of achieving while building up their empire.
Historian Paul Veyne tells us a bit about the way society worked out within the Roman Empire and how the people were greatly appreciative of their social hierarchy, enjoyed the finer things …show more content…
For example, the creation of latrines and sewer systems was an important innovation within the empire because without these structures there would be a quickly spreading threat of disease, which would not only contaminate the homes of the Romans, but their food and water supplies could become tainted as well if they were to cultivate with dirt that may contain human fecal matter (Scobie 2003, 130-132). Those who were upper class were able to afford to have latrines created in or near their homes for better hygiene and to prevent any health concerns. The poorer people, known as plebeians in Rome, were not able to afford a latrine and would have to live in filthier and likely unhealthy conditions. Not everything would be a negative experience because there was always an upside to being a citizen of the Empire. Citizens enjoyed banquets and valued friendships among one another thus creating a tight knit society according to Veyne (Pleasures and Excesses in the Roman Empire 2003, 110-113). The banquets were known to be more than just food and friends but it would be open to intelligent conversations, dancing, eating and merriment among all citizens of all classes, including slaves who would serve food and drink among partygoers. Veyne generally concluded that the citizens wanted to live for entertainment and to fulfill their lust for the life full of luxury and intelligence. The people would join groups called confraternities which were glorified interest clubs where they would speak and share information and ideas with one
HIS-111
Quality of Life in Ancient Rome
Within these two articles, “Pleasures and Excess in the Roman Empire” by Paul Veyne and “Slums, Sanitation, and Mortality in the Roman World” by Alexis Scobie, we learn about the history of how the Roman society worked as well as gain insight through the theories created in what could have possibly been going on in the everyday life of Roman citizens. We get to delve in the social scales of the people including how/ where they lived and what they were capable of achieving while building up their empire.
Historian Paul Veyne tells us a bit about the way society worked out within the Roman Empire and how the people were greatly appreciative of their social hierarchy, enjoyed the finer things …show more content…
For example, the creation of latrines and sewer systems was an important innovation within the empire because without these structures there would be a quickly spreading threat of disease, which would not only contaminate the homes of the Romans, but their food and water supplies could become tainted as well if they were to cultivate with dirt that may contain human fecal matter (Scobie 2003, 130-132). Those who were upper class were able to afford to have latrines created in or near their homes for better hygiene and to prevent any health concerns. The poorer people, known as plebeians in Rome, were not able to afford a latrine and would have to live in filthier and likely unhealthy conditions. Not everything would be a negative experience because there was always an upside to being a citizen of the Empire. Citizens enjoyed banquets and valued friendships among one another thus creating a tight knit society according to Veyne (Pleasures and Excesses in the Roman Empire 2003, 110-113). The banquets were known to be more than just food and friends but it would be open to intelligent conversations, dancing, eating and merriment among all citizens of all classes, including slaves who would serve food and drink among partygoers. Veyne generally concluded that the citizens wanted to live for entertainment and to fulfill their lust for the life full of luxury and intelligence. The people would join groups called confraternities which were glorified interest clubs where they would speak and share information and ideas with one