Notes

The Roman society, like most other ancient societies, was divided into various social classes, and like every other domain of life, this class consciousness of the Romans was also reflected in their houses and homes. Rich people and wealthy freedman had elaborately constructed large houses while the poor people lived in small quarters or apartments. People from the upper classes were known as Patricians while those belonging to the lower classes were called Plebeians. The patricians lived in grand houses with impressive architecture while the plebeians lived in simple houses and homes.

Different housing styles and designs were used in ancient Rome for people belonging to different social classes. People from the lower classes lived in small houses or flats which had two rooms at most which were mainly reserved for sleeping. Roman people usually ate at local inns and visited local public baths for washing. The rich people, on the other hand, mostly had large single-storey houses built around a central hall called an atrium. There were many large and well-furnished rooms in addition to private baths. An important feature of the houses of the rich people was an open courtyard known as a peristylum. It consisted of a garden that served as a meeting point.