This book shows Rome as it was during the 2nd century AD, the time of Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius & Commodus. It was a period of ostentatious wealth, a dazzling cultural mix & the Xian advent. Splendor & squalor, spectacles & the day's routines are reconstructed from the archeological evidence & from descriptions by ancient poets, satirists, letter-writers & novelists--from Petronius to Pliny.
1 The Physical & Moral Background of Roman Life. The Extent & Population of the City: The splendour of the Urbs; The precincts of Rome & the city's true extent; The growth of the city's population.
Houses & Streets: Modern aspects of the Roman house; Archaic aspects of the Roman house; Streets & traffic.
Society & Social Classes: Romans & foreigners; Slavery & manumission; The confusion of social values ; Living standards & the plutocracy.
Marriage, Woman & the Family: The weakening of paternal authority; Betrothal & marriage; The Roman matron; Feminism & demoralisation; Divorce & the instability of the family.
Education & Religion: Symptoms of decomposition; Primary education; The routine teaching of the grammarian; Impractical rhetoric; The decay of traditional religion; The progress of Oriental mysticism; The advent of Xianity.
2 The Day's Routine. The Morning: The days & hours of the Roman calendar; The Roman begins the day; The barber; The matron dresses.
Occupations: The duties of a client; Businessmen & manual laborers; Justice & politics; Public readings.
Shows & Spectacles: Panem et circenses; The employment of leisure; The races; The theatre; The amphitheatre; Late opposition.
Afternoon & Evening: Strolling, gaming & pleasure; The baths; Dinner.