What The Day-To-Day Life Was Really Like In Ancient Rome | Rome: Empire Without Limit | Timeline

In the second episode, Mary Beard explores the physical world of the Roman Empire, and finds surprising parallels with our own world. Setting out in the footsteps of the emperor Hadrian, she discovers a vast empire bound together by a common material culture, and a globalised economy of such scale that evidence of its side-effects can still be seen today, thousands of miles away from Rome. Mary unpicks the threads of a huge commercial and cultural network, taking in the vital supply of olive oil to Rome and her armies, the slave trade, and the all-important silver mines of Spain.
Following the famous Roman road network, and the shipping routes connecting the empire's thriving ports, Mary reveals another side to the Roman Empire, one where builders and traders eclipse soldiers, and starring slaves, not senators, making the most of a hugely connected new world.
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[@jodif916]

Mary beard for the romans Joanne fletcher for the Egyptians amazing experts who don’t make history lessons boring.

[@phillipcarter8045]

And David starkey for Great Britain

[@jodif916]

@@phillipcarter8045 amazing man, loved the one when he did all the wives of Henry VIII, I love history, I feel that we should look back and learn from the past, what future would we have if we didn’t? Have a good evening Phillip regards from Yorkshire.

[@wakandaforever4291]

Couldn't agree more 😊

[@kateaye3506]

Waldemar for art history, Bethany Hughes for ancient Greece and Lucy Worsely for English history.

[@bethboldman8314]

Joanne Fletcher only spews the party line, her ideas are dull and unimaginable just so can get to Egyptian government to let her film.

[@user-lh1wr9sr8m]

I really hope Mary Beard gets the chance to and accepts the chance to make another series like this soon. I think her perspective combined with going on site and viewing actual pertinent artifacts is just a winning combination. The "Why the Dark Ages were not Really that Dark" uses a similar formula, and honestly I think it makes for some of the most interesting history doc work.

[@infomercialwars]

Yeah her stuff is some of my favorite and Tony Robinson

[@johkkarkalis8860]

How many of us were fortunate enough to have a teacher like MB when we were in school? She proves history does not have to be a recitation of dates, battles, and generals. Ave! Mary Beard.

[@vedacombs5583]

When it comes to Rome no one knows it better than Mary Beard I just love her and she puts me to sleep listening to her about the Romans she's the best

[@johkkarkalis8860]

@@vedacombs5583 Much preferred to taking 10mg of Ambien.

[@erynn9968]

As if all say they are ‘that’ dark. No, no ‘that’, just dark, normally dark, leave the word alone.

[@beasthunt]

This documentary is glorious and reminds me of the glory days of documentaries in the 80/90's. Fantastic!

[@gloriahufnagel5556]

Do you mean 1980s?? 😂😂. Ahh.. I was there.. 💜.

[@BatmanBateman.]

Love the passion of the moderator! Couldnt imagine this series without her :)

[@emilywathen1532]

I fully agree!

[@goldenhorse582]

Mary is the BOMB!

[@BatmanBateman.]

@@goldenhorse582 exactly

[@ivareskesner2019]

I often think how great it would be if we had access to a time machine to be able to go back and see it all for ourselves. I wouldn't even be greedy and want to see Roman Triumphs, one of Calligula's venomous snake flinging speeches or Caesar's assassination. I'd be happy just walking the streets and watching normal life go on. Emerse myself in that atmosphere. Even if the price for said time travel was time taken off your own life. Each trip costing you, say, a month off your life. I love history so much I'd probably use up all my life years time travelling and die in ancient Sumer somewhere, 99 years old at 41 and content.

[@buttercxpdraws8101]

This is a fantastic premise for a novel!

[@csbalachandran]

@@buttercxpdraws8101 You might want to check out some of Gore Vidal's novels. However, he doesn't portray the lives of ordinary citizens, but he does describe scenes of 'daily life' to some extent. Most are available as PDFs for free online.

[@billyjean3118]

100% agree! That would be my dream

[@johkkarkalis8860]

Even at the not so young age of 83 I would like to join you on your time travels: Sumer and Akkad, ancient Memphis ( to see how the great pyramid was really built), Troy, Athens during either the archaic or classical periods Let me know when you settle on a price for the travel.. What currency should I bring?

[@ivareskesner2019]

@@johkkarkalis8860 Good choice, good sir. There is definitely room in my travel retinue for another traveller. And I suppose you better bring gold. That is one thing which has maintained value throughout history.

[@ande100]

My mother was a history teacher and I dreaded every vacation as it was yet another part of an intense 2-3 week history lesson/ study course. In hindsight I'm grateful, but Mary would have been I would've dropped my gelato for to follow, listen and learn for in a heartbeat. ❤

[@csbalachandran]

Yet another brilliant journey with Professor Mary Beard. Professor, I love the way you lay out the information with stories and make your field of expertise both interesting and accessible to laypersons, such as I. Your humor is also so enjoyable ... so British, and in just the right doses. "Olives, olives, and more damn olives!" is among my favorites. Thank you for your work. Thank you, Timeline, for uploading this to your channel.

[@lilyrose9888]

Couldn't agree with you more. I love Mary's Beard humour. She certainly brings history alive and is utterly fascinating I wish she had been my tour guide when l visited Pompey and Herculean

[@daynasafranek7807]

This is such a great episode! So informative and I just adore watching Mary!! She’s like traveling with a great friend whom you just don’t tire of! She’s a blessing to historical documentaries!

[@karenlynne6200]

One of the best documentary about Rome I've ever watched, thank you! Highly recommend the 1950's famous British travel writer H V Morton's book "A Traveller in Rome", he went deep dive into the eternal city, basically living like a local, sharing its history, architectures, different cultures/people of various neighborhoods, religious insights, & eating at hundred years old coffee/tea shops. I learned so much. Rome really is an unique city that one can travel to so many times yet still finding new discoveries around the corners each time.

[@rabiaadam]

Is it available online?

[@karenlynne6200]

@@rabiaadam can purchase the ebook & read in Kindle

[@joesdi]

I cant help but tear up when I listen to Mary Beard. I have her books and I also listen to her on Audible --- just sooooooo amazing writing and storytelling. Grazie mille ❤

[@davidnichols147]

Marvelous Mary, as you tour Hadrian's Empire, we are astonished at the vat knowledge you develop to us the viewer. Truly another epic tour of the Roman Empire at it's pinnacle point in human history.

[@monicayriart3016]

Daily life in Rome - it was SO GOOD !!!!!!!!!! Amazing. I lived in Rome for 5 years, and still could never imaging all that you taught. Just wonderful. Transforming.

[@charlottebruce979]

Not great for slaves, especially women slaves, a master could do what they wanted with you!

[@roberttelarket4934]

The word milestone literally comes from those stones marking each mile!

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

The Roman gift of organisation is amazing

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

The Aquaduct is incredible

[@sueatkins5012]

I love her!! And Dr Joanne Fletcher. Two of the best!

[@tonysmith7632]

Terrific documentary, thank you all who were involved in this production.

[@johkkarkalis8860]

Endlessly fascinating, the history of ancient Rome. It was described by the 5 "F's", flood, fire, famine, fever, and filth. Fortunately there was much, much more to Rome. For many "Rome" is empire, good and crazy rulers, gladiatorial combat, and legions on the move. If I had my druthers I would program my time machine to whisk me back to the Regal period, from c.a. 753BCE to 509BCE, a period of myth, legend and history when the ancient Roman virtues were formulated. Did king Ancus Martius really exist? Was the Republic established when Tarquin "Superbus" was kicked out of town? From a minor town on the Tiber to a huge empire, it is a marvel. Thanks for talks such as this.

[@user-vm9bn8xq7c]

My first visit to this incredible city was in 1984 and in addition to the remarkable architecture what was breathtaking was the way of life. In particular I remember early one morning walking through a square off the beaten path and saw three old women on a bench requisitioning some young boys on their way to school to go into a store to do their shopping. They were super fast and were given some coins as a thank you. All over you could see cooperation to make the daily challenges of living with bridges, cobbles and canals work for everyone. It made such a lasting impression as a model on community.

[@tamayocollins]

Mary Beard is magnificent. Than you so much for all that you share with us, a people of the world.

[@sabascaracas]

What a comprehensive program to understand the complexities of the Roman World, thanks Mary!

[@fernnielsen8158]

Mary is fantastic. She takes you back in time.

[@SiiriCressey]

Archaeologists: highly respected dumpster divers.

[@oc2phish07]

Absolutely amazing video. I loved it from start to finish. I live in London but have visited Rome twice. Now I really want to go back again and see the things I missed. Hadrian's Villa for a start. Thanks Mary, for showing so much of Roman life.

[@ardiffley-zipkin9539]

Amazing documentary. I studied 4 years of Latin in High School and enjoyed learning the History of Rome there and in College. I visited Rome and Pompey several times years ago. This documentary was like traveling without the current days hassles. Well done

[@realnaveen]

Awesome sharing of ancient knowledge of Rome!

[@shehansenanayaka3046]

Mary beard is a great historian. I love your videos. Brilliant video. Love from Sri Lanka ❤️.

[@thomasochase7972]

Mary Beard is a gem. Great video.

[@peterhutley4254]

Wonderful! I love listening to Mary. She’s so knowledgeable and also speaks with such enthusiasm and humour.

[@roberttelarket4934]

Excellent and informative!

[@michaelhealy1590]

Mary Beard is undoubtedly the best!

[@mrbcaesar]

Mary Beard is just simply amazing at what she does

[@jess53nz]

Anything with Mary beard is an instant win!

[@isalutfi]

Thank you for sharing this

[@RubyMarkLindMilly]

If Mary Beard is on i watch and listen 😊👍

[@juliamarple3785]

So Interesting. I love these shows with Mary.

[@LeahSelman]

love Mary Beard! We need to know this stuff

[@rachelsremedies2602]

Love your explanations of Rome.

[@howardkoor9365]

Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@lynncowan3936]

Loving your videos of roman sites in the UK. We visited all of these places in April 2023. My hubby is roman mad and we spent our honeymoon looking at all these sites. Being from Australia, we don't have anything quite as amazing as these sites over here. Thanks for making these videos, which are helping us reminisce.

[@romikim4548]

Thank you for your contents! Good to learn roman way of life.

[@fernandomarques3711]

Thank you very much for talking about the acueduct of Segovia ( Spain ). Beautiful place. ❤️

[@jflatley38]

I'm so glad I had some authentic Spanish olive oil on hand while watching this. Had me some with bread just now! Excellent quality and I will always buy oil from Spain.

[@zuzuspetals38]

I love Mary🌟🌟 I would love if they could “show” us how these homes and towns would have looked like as well But I’m very thankful to see things I will never see in my life 💙🙏🏼

[@fredtorres1703]

Mary Beard. The world's history teacher!

[@andyroo9381]

Another good one from Mary Beard. Thank you for this nugget of information.

[@travislatigue4957]

Amazing. ...they had to deal with what was dealt to them. Simply amazing.

[@christinamorales6887]

Like this lady and how she presented history.

[@ivareskesner2019]

The quality and manner of life completely depended on your status in society. Some had it incredibly well, with slaves looking after their every whim. Others barely managed to sell enough of their bodily labour to earn sustenance to survive. _'Some are born to sweet delight and some are born to endless night',_ as William Blake mused. And nowhere was it more self evident than Rome. The land of extreme haves and have nots...and what I wouldn't give for a time machine to see it all myself.

[@insidiousbeatz48]

If you somehow managed to go back in time to vist , you'd most likely be murdered or enslaved within a few days as a barbarian. I think I'll pass on visiting

[@saffyjanes8875]

And as you were there living it we can take your word for it that it was just that binary and simple. Or are you a mind reader? Either way. It’s impressive.

[@insidiousbeatz48]

@saffyjanes8875 🧂 salty. No, but unless he spoke ancient Greek or Latin, He would be considered Barbarian. That's not guesswork or me living there as you sarcastically put. That's a simple fact that has been stated in multiple documentaries over multiple decades on the roman empire. But enjoy your salt sandwich with extra salt

[@ivareskesner2019]

@@insidiousbeatz48 Depends on your ability to do prior research and pick an accurate place and time of arrival, I guess. If you could pick the right place and time, there'd have to be opportunities for somebody with modern knowledge. Most likely in royal courts. You'd be a very valuable asset if you showed yourself able to do and make things way ahead of their time...and, of course, just as fast, you'd get killed, enslaved, imprisoned etc. if you arrived at the wrong time and place without preparation.

[@ivareskesner2019]

@@saffyjanes8875 Ranging from one to the other, not consisting of only one and the other.

[@eugeniasyro5774]

If I could go back in time,, I'd take antibiotics, A lot of local currency, an ability to understand and converse with the people, and a reliable way to transport back safely to today.

[@yvonne3903]

What would you bring back with you?

[@fulconerra3055]

I would warn them about Arminius, the coming of the avars and the threat of the desert tribes of arabia. I would bring back a bottle of guarum and roman wine and a copy of several lost texts :).

[@christopherlawley1842]

Anethsetic would be quite handy too

[@ScottieGMusic]

They would throw you to the lions

[@MonsterMacLLC]

The tiles where you walk at 21:40 have interesting shapes and I was wondering if it was a newer structure? I had heard the road tiles had five sides in a program long ago and was wondering why the difference?

[@southend26]

She's such a good storyteller.

[@irfilo]

I see Dame Mary Beard, I click.

[@Itstonytime77]

I like her and Lucy Worsley

[@computerismo]

Truly brilliant

[@zyxw2000]

She has such passion and love for her subject. Wish she had been my instructor in college. I hated history, just strings of memorization.

[@debbralehrman5957]

Thanks History Hit👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 🎁🕯🌟🕯🎁

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

Thank you for the net work( History Hit) and (time line) channel for sharing this remarkable documentary about Roman Empire's impact on air pollution ,road constructions, activation of commercial activities and encouragement of individuals and minor human groups to traveling faraway from the capital (Rome ) for discovering better lifestyle and settlement...while travelers carrying theirs problems and bad site's within themselves far from complicated Rome city lifestyle...it was smartness Roman empire policy at that ancient time... for running away from Roman political, economic, society crisis and criticality..

[@janetwebb2701]

I always love Mary Beard's presentation style. Fantastic. "Olives, olives and more damned olives" an Epic statement. .o.😂

[@nickstone3113]

Mary Beard is simply amazing ,yet again.

[@travislatigue4957]

Amazing 😍

[@thevoiceevents]

Nice....

[@sandyruitenberg2928]

Those poor children. I wonder from what age they needed to work. I have a 2 year old son, it makes me even more sad. I am happy for him and myself that we live in this day and age.

[@mariefranceteolis9279]

Merci👍

[@Someonesaidthis]

Something about this old lady as the host I adore ❤❤

[@simplyme8593]

Are my eyes sewing well? A new documentary about Rome by Mary Beard! 😍 Yaaaaaay, I'm gonna watch it now and enjoy!!! 😍🤗😍🤗

[@debbiestyer453]

Excellent.yhx

[@margomoore4527]

Smart lady, wearing linen shirts frequently. A natural fiber worn everywhere historically, good in varying climates, cool in summer, surprisingly warm (as a layer) in winter; antibacterial, antifungal, anti-odor. Really excellent for travel, if you overlook the wrinkles. A super-fabric when compared with flimsy cotton. Probably the most common fabric worn by rich and poor alike, differing only in quality and fancy dyes.

[@jimfinn2412]

All Empire,s are build on the backs of the workers

[@A.R.77]

In the States I had no idea where our imitation of a pompous, spoiled person originated from. It's a distinctive character here, and she was striking it in her initial intro. 🙃😃

[@MB5rider81]

Thanks for putting in the work, Mary. Those legs look like they hurt.

[@Maxley..]

Mary B doesn't just tell us about Rome. She illustrates how they felt, and thus why they tried to turn their Empire into an engine.

[@Rechtauch]

I am a little surprised that, when talking about Italica, you focus so much on Hadrian when his predecesor, Trajano, was actually born and grew up until quite late there too.

[@penkaqncheva5599]

Гледам от България. Субтитри на български език, моля!

[@ellenbakulina6997]

Wow. I thought that anthropocene (the era when the environment is significantly influenced by human activity) started in the 17th century. But this video shows that it actually started at least as early as the 1st century!! That's very revealing.

[@madamedemonsieur]

The moment we saw the aqueduct in Segovia my mind immediately flipped to "What have the Romans done for us?" "The aqueduct!" And a few moments later Professor Beard said it! 😂

[@augustopinto2859]

The Via Domitia start North of Napoli, thank you I dd'nt know that road will take us all the way to Iberia.

[@dgonthehill]

ty

[@travislatigue4957]

I have often wonder what it was like to be alive back then.....😮

[@barrylane1055]

I enjoy Mary Beard and her presentations, but this one had nothing to do with day to day life in Ancient Rome. It was more about the institutions and economic sinews of the Empire. One should not mislead people like this!

[@Yeoman7]

If I had a time machine I’d pick up Mary and go for a drive.

[@3b1g4k]

At 29:30 we learn that Roman politics were less corrupt than in modern U.S.

[@TheNatty88]

37:35 Where did Cyprus go? The map even shows trade routes crossing the Island but not the Island itself…bizarre…🤨

[@alessandragorini8287]

Are those the ORIGINAL Vicarello gobelets from Palazzo Massimo alle Terme ? 😮😮😮

[@sussexedge]

Mary Beard . . . amazing woman.

[@ArkadiosTheodulus]

1:28 what is this location?

[@JennRighter]

What a wonderful woman.

[@j.dunlop8295]

Very strict social rules and regulations! You were allowed to kill or sale as slaves any family member! Similar to Japan, 18th century!

[@zyxw2000]

Some of the olive trees in Italy and Greece are 2,000 years old.

[@sanmari1071]

I cried when woman was saing abt ice from roman times.

[@VOLightPortal]

What the heck is a diary entry doing lodged in some exterior of a building...

[@apriltoo]

Now i know why there's a saying "BANYAK JALAN MENUJU ROMA" Means plenty ways/roads to get to Rome. Hmmmm...interesting 😁

[@michellel564]

I would love to hang out with you and just BS😅 about history ❤

[@RTD3]

Did Pertinax leave an account of his father?

[@christienjanson6530]

I doubt that people in spain actually profited from the olive oil economy. It sounds more like an exploitative plantation economy with a few collaborators.

[@shepardsmith3235]

An interesting question is how Roman was the Byzantine empire. Chime in. I know the language was different and they had their own Pope, the Metropolitan but thats about all.

[@kjdempsey]

Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? No but do you know how the orcs first came into being?

[@JohnnyBlaze5100]

I like Mary.

[@michellel564]

Could that Spike and methane gas have been volcano eruption? You know which one I'm talking about 😅

[@csbalachandran]

Yes. This would have been worth exploring a little bit more. Just asking the question about the *dating* of the methane bubbles would have helped.

[@antonyjh1234]

Couldn't the answer just be that they burnt so much wood during their expansion?

[@golgumbazguide...4113]

Explore Golgumbaz