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We have sources of entertainment today, don't we? Movie theaters and arcades are quite common in first world countries where we live.

In Ancient Rome they had public gladiator fights and chariot races. These were often dangerous and bloodthirsty, but it entertained the audience. These were held in the Colosseum, a large dome shaped stadium.

Children entertained themselves by playing with wax or wooden dolls, marbles, and rattles. They even had mini chariot races with mice! Sounds like fun!

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Much like the Ancient Greeks, the Romans had a complex mythology. They actually borrowed most of the more important deities, as they still had a god of the sky and lightning, only he took the form of Jupiter. They still had a goddess of beauty, she was just called Venus instead of Aphrodite.

Some of the gods and goddesses were changed by the Romans. For instance, the goddess of wisdom and warfare was Athena to the Greeks, and she was greatly honored. The Romans changed her, however, focused more on the arts and crafts.

The Romans also created a few deities that were specific to their culture, such as the god Janus, who was the god of beginnings and endings.

Overall Roman mythology was very complex, but it's still interesting to learn about today.

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School for most children in Ancient Rome looked very different than it does today. In fact, it was nonexistent in the beginning of what we know as Ancient Rome. Boys were taught the basic skills they would need for life by their fathers, learning how to hunt, and they were taught basic reading and writing skills.

Girls were also taught at home by their mothers who passed on their knowledge of homemaking which included the skills of spinning yarn and cooking. As the girls grew older, they would learn to play instruments and sew.

As the Roman Empire progressed, schools started that would teach boys mathematics, public speaking, and politics. Only a select number of girls were allowed to attend as it required a very wealthy family to send their daughters to school.

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In addition to the gods the Romans partially borrowed from the Greeks, they also had individual household gods called Lares. These gods were thought to watch over and protect the home, so the Romans often prioritized them over the 'public gods' such as Jupiter and Mars. Each household had an altar at which they would worship the Lares. Different trades would also have their own Lar. Sometimes there would even be a neighborhood Lar which would be placed by a well or at a crossroads.

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In Ancient Rome, women were not valued as equals to men as they are in our society today. They were known as homemakers, and while they were a vital part of Ancient Roman society, their rights were virtually nonexistent.

Especially in the beginning of the Roman Empire, women had to stay at home and take care of their garden. Women would also spin wool to make clothing. They were basically owned by their husbands or fathers. Women were hardly even allowed to talk to their husbands, let alone have their own opinion. They definitely were not allowed a voice in government.

Similarly to the rights of the Plebeians, women gained rights as time went on, and toward the end of the Roman Empire they were allowed to speak their minds at home, own slaves, and in some cases they could even own land!

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Unlike the Patricians, the Plebeians often had no more than gruel or porridge to eat for each meal. They just couldn't afford the luxuries we have today, and they definitely couldn't afford the food eaten by the Patricians.

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Housing for Plebeians was a bit grim. Only the wealthy could afford to own extensive houses that are symbolic of Ancient Roman culture. Most of the plebeians resided in small, wooden apartments called insulae. These were very small and sometimes two families would have to share one room. There were no washrooms so they used chamber pots.

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The Patricians lived lives of luxury, of this there was no doubt. Their eating styles just reflected that in yet another way. The Patricians lounged to eat, an act that still comes to mind when we think of the Roman culture.

A normal Roman meal schedule was similar to ours with the fact that they would have lunch and breakfast, but instead of supper, they had an evening meal that lasted from 4pm to 6pm. This evening meal would have consisted of multiple courses with exotic delicacies such as ostriches and peacocks seasoned with rich spices and herbs. Pork sausage was also a common meat. They also had a variety of vegetables such as artichokes, brussels sprouts, and cabbage.

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Housing for the Patricians was quite lavish in comparison to the insulae of the Plebeian class. There were many extensive rooms containing lavish furniture, gleaming tiled mosaics and colorful painted walls. A few of the main rooms were the Vestibulum(entry hall), Atrium(sitting room/courtyard), Triclinium(dining room), and multiple Cubiculums(bedrooms). The housing would have signified the wealthiness of the family in question, something that many Patricians were eager to show off.

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The social classes of Ancient Rome were the Plebeians and the Patricians.

The word Plebeians comes from the Latin word Plebs, which means masses in English. It makes sense too, as the Plebeians made up almost 90% of the Roman population. They were the lower class and had little rights until the Revolt of the Plebs in c. 494 BC. After that they gained more rights, and eventually a Plebeian was placed in the highest level of government as one of the two consuls.

The word Patricians comes from the Latin word Patres or Pater, meaning father. They were the upper class and were able to be involved in politics from the very beginning. The Patricians had access to the laws, and before the forming of the 12 Tables or 12 Laws of Rome, they could change the laws on a whim and no Plebeian would be the wiser. Life would have been much better as a Patrician, don't you think?