A child in Ancient Rome

Mothers took charge of their children till the age of seven. When a boy reached this age they followed their father to learn to the skill they had. Boys and girls from wealthy families went to school where they were taught to read and write. Children wrote on wax tablets instead of paper. This allowed them to easily remove mistakes they may have made. School was a strict place and children would be beaten if they failed to do their lessons.

It was rare for a girl to continue their education beyond the age of 12. Boys from rich families would continue their education in a grammar school till the age of 16. They studied history, geography, Greek and maths. They studied the great authors like Plato and Aristotle. It was also very important for young men to learn the art of oratory (public speaking). It was important for those who wanted a career in politics or law in particular.

When school was over the children were free to go the public baths or play games. They played with marbles and also a game similar to football. Childhood was much shorter in Ancient Rome then what we know it as today. Boys could be married at 14 while girls would be married from 12 onwards. Marriages for children of rich families were arranged for them. This was done as part of business deals and also to get ahead in political life. The night before a girl got married she would return her bulla (birth charm) to her father. This was to show that her childhood was over and now she was a woman.

A Roman Soldier

Citizens between the ages of 17 and 46 could be called to serve in the Roman army. The majority of soldiers went into battle on foot. Soldiers usually served between 2o and 25 years in the army. A small amount called the cavalry fought on horseback. In order to stay ready for battle they marched 30 kilometres three times ever month.

Each soldier had a lot of equipment. This included a steel helmet, a wool tunic and a protective vest made of leather and steel. They had no armour in the back as they were never expected to retreat. The weapons they had included a sword, a dagger and a long spear. They wore hob nailed sandals on their feet. Each soldier carried enough food and water to do them for two weeks. The meals consisted of beans, bread and gruel. They drank water and sometimes cheap wine.

Soldiers lived in barracks under the strict discipline. Soldiers who broke the rules were flogged in front of the other troops. If an army attempted mutiny ever tenth soldier would be killed as a punishment. If a legion did not perform well they would be punished with reduced rations. When a soldier finished his service he was usually given a plot of land to live his life out on. In some instances they would be given money also.