Summary

This chapter will focus more on the lives of ordinary citizens, women, the poor, and slaves in Ancient Rome, as well as the private lives of public figures like Cicero. From Cicero's writings, we get a picture of the extravagance of Caesar's life and entourage when he visited and dined at Cicero's home in 45 BCE. Cicero's writing also illuminates the concerns of his private life; in this period he was dealing with a divorce and remarriage, as well as the death of his beloved daughter and her infant son.

The next section is about Roman marriage, which was largely a private rather than public or legal affair. The main purpose of marriage was the production of legitimate children; the proper role for a Roman wife was to bear children, be devoted to her husband, and contribute to the domestic economy through...