As with many cultures, a person’s quality of life depended in many ways on their rank within the social structure.
Two Romans living at the same time in the same city could have very different lives.
Rich…
For wealthy Romans, life was good. They lived in beautiful houses –
often on the hills outside Rome, away from the noise and the smell. They
enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle with luxurious furnishings, surrounded
by servants and slaves to cater to their every desire. Many would hold
exclusive dinner parties and serve their guests the exotic dishes of the
day.
…and poor
Poorer Romans, however, could only dream of such a life. Sweating it out
in the city, they lived in shabby, squalid houses that could collapse
or burn at any moment. If times were hard, they might abandon newborn
babies to the streets, hoping that someone else would take them in as a
servant or slave.
Poor in wealth but strong in numbers, they were the Roman mob, who
relaxed in front of the popular entertainment of the time – chariot races between opposing teams, or gladiators fighting for their life, fame and fortune.
Although their lives may have been different, they did have some things
in common. In any Roman family life, the head of the household was a
man. Although his wife looked after the household, he controlled it. He
alone could own property. Only he decided the fate of his children and
who they would marry.
There were other traditions that all Romans shared. Whatever their
individual circumstances, all Romans observed certain practices at
dinner time, the main meal of the day. Although they might eat very
different food, they ate it in roughly the same way.
And Romans of all classes made a point of visiting the baths
after work each day. There they would mix freely with their fellow
citizens, exercising, washing and chatting. To citizens, the baths made
them feel superior to the rest of the world – they made them feel Roman.
Explanation: Dr Frobish possesses a type A behavior pattern.
Type A behavior pattern is related to a high level of responsability in their work, which causes several biologic disruptions such as hypertension and mood changes, usually to an anger-related state.
