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Most Romans lived in apartment blocks called insulae (singular, insula, island). The poor lived on the upper floors which were the least desirable because of the extra stairs and they were less safe in case of fire and, therefore, were cheaper to rent. The apartments on these floors were small and only had small and overcrowded rooms for sleeping. There was no running water, heating, cooking facilities or toilets. The poor went there only to sleep. During the day they and lived outdoors. They ate outdoors, went to outdoors public toilets, and went to the public baths. The insulae were up to six or seven floors. Despite height restrictions, some reached eight or nine floors. Originally they were built in timber and mud brick, later chap concrete was used. Fires and collapses were a common problem, made worse by the fact that they were often built cheaply by speculators. Fires could spread quickly because the insulae were densely packed, often separated only by alleys. After the Great Fire of Rome (64 AD) Nero ordered that the insulae were to be spaced out, built in brick, and faced by porticos on wide roads. Even so, they remained prone fires and collapses because of poor building quality.

The middle class lived on the lower floors of the insulae which were larger and more expensive and had running water. On the ground floor there were shops and workshops.

The detached houses of the rich were called domus and were divided into the areas. There was a public area centred on an atrium where the social life of the family took place and were guests were received. There was also a private area just for the family members, which was centred on a garden which was called peristyle, which was adopted from the Greeks.

There was a vestibulum (vestibule) which was the main entrance hall which led to a large central, hall (the atrium) which was the focal point of this part of the house. The atrium was open at the centre and was partly surrounded by a portico with high ceilings. It often has sparse furnishing to give a stronger feel of a large place. The rooms around the atrium had an inwardly sloping tiled roof (compluvium) which channelled the rainwater to the impluvium, a shallow rectangular sunken portion in the centre of the atrium which collected it. The water was then drained into an underground cistern which had sand to filter it. The bedrooms of the family were on the sides of the atrium. At the sides of the bottom of the atrium there were the alae (wings) which were open spaces that extended this portion of the atrium to the sides of the house. Their purpose is unknown. At the bottom of the atrium there was the tablinium, which was the study of the head of the household. The side facing the atrium did not have a wall, and at the opposite side there was a passage to the peristyle. Therefore the study acted as a passageway between the atrium and the peristyle parts of the house. The head of the household was able to command the house visually. On both sides of the tablinium there were the fauces, which were like two corridors which also provided passages to the peristyle separate from the tablinium. The Triclinium was the dining room where guests reclined on three couches along three sides of a table to eat. It was at the bottom of the atrium, but separated from it by walls, and next to one of the fauces. It could be accessed either from the bottom of the atrium or the peristyle.

The peristyle (Latin, peristilum) was a garden surrounded by columns which supported a roofed portico which provided shade. It had flowers, shrubs, benches, statues, fountains and a fish pond. There were frescoes on the walls. In this area there was also the culina, the kitchen. It had no chimney; therefore it was filled with smoke. It was a dark and gloomy room. By the kitchen there was also the Posticum. This was the servants' entrance or the access to the servants' quarters. Family members sometimes used it to exit unobserved.

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8y ago
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13y ago

Houses were made of straw and sod until the Etruscans came in. They were skilled metal-workers and made the little village of straw to a city made of brick.

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13y ago

true roman citizens would own the houses and the slaves, but many people would live in them under command of a true citizen (slaves, cooks, scribes, etc...).

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Q: Who lived in the houses in ancient rome?
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Where did ancient Rome senators live?

The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.


How were the ancient puebloans named?

they were named by the houses they lived in


What sort of accommodation did ancient rome have?

ancient rome had small villas were you live but other wise you lived with your master


What does an ancient rome slave house look like?

Slaves in ancient Rome did not have their own houses. Domestic slaves lived in the same house as their owners and had rooms/space there. Farm slaves or public slaves in the city were housed in barracks.


Did the ancient Hebrews live in houses and huts?

The ancient Israelites lived in small huts made of fabrics, later leading to the building of houses.

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Did ancient Rome live in houses?

Yes, they lived in houses or apartment buildings.


Did ancient egyptians like houses?

They lived in houses.


What was a government made up of two houses called in ancient Rome?

There was not a name for a government made up of two houses in ancient Rome because Rome did not have this type of government.


Something ancient rome houses have in common with rome houses now?

There was running water and plumbing in a way.


What crawled under bath houses in ancient rome?

In Ancient Rome, rats would often times work their way under bath houses.


Where did ancient Rome senators live?

The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.The senators in ancient Rome lived in their own houses. The was no special residential area for them. They were generally wealthy men so could afford to live in the better part of the city of Rome and also more than likely had a villa or two outside of the city.


How were ancient Rome houses heated?

Roman houses were heated by central heating


Poor ancient Greece houses?

they lived in houses made of bricks and mud


Where did doctors in ancient Egypt live?

Doctors lived in normal houses. Houses in Ancient Egypt were made of mudbricks.


Who lived in anicent greek houses?

Ancient Greeks?? .......


How were the ancient puebloans named?

they were named by the houses they lived in


What crawled underneath the bath houses in ancient Rome?

bugs