Part II: Rome, Pages 150 through 189 Summary and Analysis

Daily Life

Roman men work away from home and the women, unlike Greek women, are allowed to go out on their own and eat with the men. Ritual surrounds the birth of children to ward off miscarriage and death, which are common occurrences. Like the Greeks, the Romans can let an unwanted child die from exposure. Girl babies are named eight days after birth and boys, nine days after birth. In wealthy families, parents take a role in their children's education. Formalized education is based on the rote process. Poor children attend school until age fourteen while rich children are educated at home by tutors. Only sons of wealthy families receive what is considered a full education.

Between the ages of fourteen and nineteen, a young man celebrates his coming of age. When...