from: Oxford University Press, USA
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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 306.0945632
EAN num: 9780195089745
ISBN number: 019508974X
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 512
Printing Date: October 09, 1997
Publishing house: Oxford University Press, USA
Sale Popularity Level: 86775
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
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Product Description:
Revised to include new selections and updated bibliographical material, the second edition of this popular sourcebook offers a rich, revealing look at everyday Roman life. It provides clear, lively translations of a fascinating array of documents drawn from Latin and Greek source material--from personal letters, farming manuals, medical texts, and recipes to poetry, graffiti, and tombstone inscriptions. Each selection has been translated into readable, contemporary English. This edition includes more than 50 additional selections that introduce new topics and expand coverage of existing topics. In addition, the commentary on all the selections has been revised to reflect the recent scholarship of social and cultural historians. Extensive annotations, abundant biographical notes, maps, appendices, cross-references to related topics, and a newly-updated bibliography provide readers with the historical and cultural background material necessary to appreciate the selections.
Arranged thematically into chapters on family life, housing, education, entertainment, religion, and other important topics, the translations reveal the ambitions and aspirations not only of the upper class, but of the average Roman citizen as well. They tell of the sucess and failure of Rome's grandiose imperialist policies and also of the pleasures and hardships of everyday life. Wide-ranging and lively, the second edition of As the Romans Did offers the most lucid account available of Roman life in all its diversity. Ideal for courses in Ancient Roman History, Social History of Rome, Roman Civilization, and Classics, it will also appeal to readers interested in ancient history.
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Rated by buyers -
Because Roman civilization is so fundamental to our own, there is scarcely a cultural of political topic that isn't illuminated a bit or at least better illustrated by reference to Rome. This book is organized topically with translations of primary source materials and an excellent index. Whether your topic is government, medicine, dinner or working for a living, this is a valuable source book on that most modern of ancient civiizations.
Lynn Hoffman, author of New Short Course in Wine,The and bang BANG: A Novel
Rated by buyers -
Definitive Work On Rome,
I read this book for a graduate course in Roman history. Jo-Ann Shelton's book is the definitive anthology pertaining to Roman social history!
Shelton opens each chapter with a brief synopsis of the subject and then she has a plethora of primary source documents, which are about the subject. I find this to be the genius of the book. The books appendix of primary sources and bibliography make this book an indispensable resource for anyone who studies Rome.
Following is an example of some of the subjects covered. According to Roman folklore, the very first public day of entertainment soon after the founding of Rome by Romulus was a day of chariot racing. Thus, its importance culturally to Rome was paramount considering it became the oldest and longest lasting public sport in Rome--lasting over one thousand years. These chariot races very first took place in the seventh century BCE in an area between the Palatine and Aventine hills. The racetrack was built in the "Circus Maximus" and was expanded over the years in order to seat 250,000 spectators. Originally, there were 17 game days or ludi a year in which 12 races a day would be run. Romans throughout the social strata were attracted to the blood and danger of this spectacle, as most races had at least one chariot crashing in a race. In general, the political importance of the races and games were not lost on ambitious men wanting to make a name for themselves. Admission was free to the races since it was the aedile or praetor's responsibility to organize public entertainment while they held office. Politicians seeking to ingratiate themselves with the people and wanting to further their political careers would spend their own money to supplement the public funds available so that they could increase the lavishness of the games. For example, Julius Caesar almost went bankrupt in 65 BCE during his aedileship. He put on some of the most lavish games that Romans had ever witnessed, which made him extremely popular with the people. Though this political ploy was expensive it paid off handsomely because his popularity rose among the plebeians.
When one thinks about public entertainment in Rome, it is hard to ignore the Roman penchant for gladiatorial combat and what it culturally meant to the Romans. During the republican period, it was common practice for gladiatorial matches to be financed by wealthy private individuals. Usually sponsored in honor of a dead relative these matches were not ludi but referred to as munera meaning "duties." As was the case for the ludi, wealthy politicians used the munera for the purpose of winning over the hearts and minds of the plebeians by staging lavish spectacles for their entertainment. The advantage for an ambitious politician was that these events could be staged at any time during the year. However, during the imperial period, gladiatorial combat became a part of the publicly financed entertainment for Romans. This was done because Rome's emperors did not want potential political rivals currying favor from the plebeians. The Romans seemed to have a blood lust in their entertainment. This may be due to using gladiatorial combat as a way of showing its citizens an ennobling contempt for death. It was also certainly used to serve as a reminder to citizens the authority that the state held over them. Like the chariot drivers, gladiators were slaves that were trained in their sport under rigorous conditions. Since it was expensive to train men, not every loser of a match was automatically killed. To feed the Roman blood lust, those condemned by the state to death and many war captives were sent to the arena to fight to the death--sometimes pitted against ferocious wild animals. "In the 100 days of spectacles, which accompanied the opening of the Colosseum in 80 CE, 9000 animals were killed. At Trajan's games of 108 CE, 10,000 gladiators fought and 11,000 animals were killed."
Private leisure activities, such as dinner parties, also fulfilled important Roman cultural needs. Once again, the wealthy Roman politician frequently hosted extravagant banquets with exotic foods and expensive entertainment to curry favor from his dinner guests. Sometimes a banquet would feature food grown on the estate farms of the host. This custom was an old and respected time honored Roman tradition. Many times the dinner parties were more austere in nature and conducted as part of the Roman patron-client relationship, or just out of friendship. It is interesting to note that when one reads about the Roman customs surrounding dinner parties, one quickly realizes that they have many similarities to modern customs. As an example, in Shelton's book there are ancient accounts showing how a man fishing for a dinner invitation ingratiated himself by drying off the back of a fellow bather at the public baths, or how people would use flattery ... Read More
Rated by buyers -
Excellent. You will actually have a good time reading this if it is required for a class. There are plenty of funny antecdotes throughout. Many of the examples of people interacting seem like they could be happening now. The great thing about this book is that more than half of the material is ancient sources. Letters about marriage, politics, superstition, it is all taught by example, which takes you into the history much more. Wonder what the people actually thought about gladitorial combats? What happened when someone had to go travelling? If there's two sides to the story, both sides are presented in this book.
Rated by buyers -
I must say this was an incredibly fun sourcebook to read. At times it had me laughing with humorous quotations such as; "I am amazed, o wall, that you have not collapsed and fallen, since you must bear the tedious stupidities of so many scrawlers" and at other times I would shudder; "Good God, what scrawny little slaves they were! Their skin was everywhere embroidered with purple welts from their many beatings. Their backs, scarred from floggings... their complexions were an ugly yellow..."
Using a slew of both primary and secondary sources, Jo-Ann Shelton takes us through the life of the Romans. Covering topics as varied as slavery, provincial administration, the family unit, the magistrates and occupations, we are brought directly into Roman life with all of its practices, norms, values and peculiarities. The key feature of this book is the focus on the common Roman and how they lived with a section devoted entirely to woman in Roman society, a much overlooked topic. From dinner parties to funeral clubs, all aspects of the common Romans life are discussed.
In all a very worthwhile book to own and use as both a source of reference and entertainment!
Rated by buyers -
Although this book was recquired reading for a Roman History class I took, I found myself really enjoying the read. Shelton does a superb job in collecting sources to paint an engaging and colorful picture of Roman society. I've read a lot of books about Roman history(due to the sweetness of its action), but few make the Romans seem to come alive quite like this one. If you like Roman history like me, this would be an excellent choice for your collection.
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