Jo-Ann Shelton

This is an excellent book; that is the best way to describe it. The book uses both primary and secondary sources to illuminate the lives, customs, values, and every day workings of a whole world of different Roman people. This book describes how Romans lived, what they loved, their class differences, their gender differences, their social customs, and just… generally who they were. It has sections on bathrooms, sewers, contraception, doctors, state religion, prostitution, war captives, urban dangers… there are hundreds of things, really, and all uniquely fascinating. The best part of this book is the source material, though. In this book, a reader sees Rome through the eyes of a Roman or someone close to the Roman world. Used are such materials as graffiti, letters, tomb inscriptions, in addition to books. It’s a valuable resource for anyone who is studying Roman history.… (meer)