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Roman Life–Homes<br />
A survey in <strong>Rome</strong> in AD 350 indicated that the number of apartment blocks was over 45 000. The<br />
insulae had no internal drains, so waste was often thrown into the street gutters, as the early Romans<br />
were unaware of the connection between health and poor hygiene.<br />
After the Romans defeated the Greek settlements of southern Italy around 250 BC they adopted their<br />
grid system of city streets built at right angles to each other. They then added Roman features—the forum, the<br />
centre of Roman cities where government and religious buildings were found; the amphitheatres for public<br />
entertainment; the public baths; and water systems.<br />
Fire was a constant risk in <strong>Rome</strong>’s wooden buildings so the emperor, Augustus, set up fire brigades, each with<br />
1 000 firemen, to cover different areas throughout the city. They used simple hand pumps and wet sponges to<br />
dampen wooden walls to prevent a fire spreading.<br />
Most surviving Roman furniture is made of metal or marble because the more common wooden furniture has<br />
rotted over the centuries. As rich Romans often ate outside in their pleasant climate, tables were commonly<br />
made of marble or some other stone.<br />
The wicks in the oil lamps were made from the stems of plants which were dipped into wax and then twisted<br />
together into a kind of rope similar to tapers today. Thousands of Roman lamps have survived because they were<br />
made of metal or fired clay. Lanterns were also widely used, with the flame being protected by pieces of horn or<br />
an animal bladder.<br />
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– 32 – <strong>Ancient</strong> <strong>Rome</strong> Prim-Ed Publishing www.prim-ed.com