As their empire expanded into Europe, the Romans controlled each local area from towns they founded. Romans lived here with the native peoples, many of whom became citizens (people who had rights under Roman law) of the empire. Most Roman towns were designed in a similar way and shared many of the same features.
• Towns had walls for defence. • Streets were laid out in a grid system; they met at right angles to form rectangular blocks. • The forum, a large town square, was the centre of business, political activity and religious worship. • The gods were worshipped in temples. • Aqueducts brought fresh water from nearby mountains and rivers straight into the town. • People went to the theatre to see plays and listen to music and poetry performances.
• Monuments such as triumphal arches and statues commemorated Rome’s victories and history.
• Public baths were where people went to bathe, exercise and meet their friends. • Many towns also had public toilets and drinking fountains using water from the aqueduct. • Roman streets were paved but quite dirty, as people threw their household waste there. • The amphitheatre is where gladiatorial games were held.
grid system
city gate
amphitheatre forum Map of typical Roman town temple theatre CHECKPOINT!
1. What system was used to lay out Roman towns? 2. What was the role of the forum in a Roman town? 3. Name three buildings that were used for leisure activities. 4. How was life in a Roman town (a) similar and (b) different to our lives today?
. I understand the layout and features of a typical Roman town. 50 TIME TO GO BACK I CAN MOVE FORWARD
