Roman Civilization

Discussion Questions - Week 10

Assigned Readings This Week:

RCvI -43 (126); 146 (370-373) 170-171 (455-462); 186 (494-498); 188 (501-503); 190 (505-507); 191 (507-509)
RCvII &endash; 33 (125-129); 43 (157-160); 44 &endash; 48 (160-173); 50 (176 &endash; 182); 87 (323-324); 89- (326-329); 91-94 (338-347); 99 (356-358)
ARC- Households and Housing (p. 157-182)
Tour of Roman Houses

Questions to Consider:

Pick one of the houses from the Roman House Tour page. As best as you can, create a floorplan or layout of the house. Describe the kinds of family and social activities that went on in each house.
In the modern west, it is a truism to say, "a man's home is his castle." Was this true for wealthy Romans? [you might want to consider what we mean by this truism] Why or why not.
Consider Pliny's description of his Laurentine villa [RCvII -44 (160-162)] and his daily routine at his Tuscan villa [RCvII - 45 (163-164)]. Does the design of the Laurentine villa say something about Pliny's beliefs, values or ideals? What does Pliny's description of his daily routine in Tuscany tell us about the lifestyle of members of the Roman elite. Do you think Pliny's self-description is accurate or idealizing? To the extent it is idealizing, what does it tell us about what members of the Roman elite thought a proper gentleman was? How do Pliny's comments about and attitudes towards his homes compare to Cicero's about his?