Pompeii And Herculaneum Flashcards
(78 cards)
Geographical setting
Campania near Bay of Naples
Natural features
- fertile land due to rich volcanic soil
- two main rivers used for fishing and making trades
Resources
Olive oil -> cooking and basic ingredient for perfume
Wine, wool and textile production + fishing industries
Volcanic material used for building and paving roads
Insulae
Dividing of streets and roads into rectangular blocks
Roads of Pompeii
- roads deep wheel grooves caused by constant heavy wagons
- poor drainage = large stepping stones so ppl could walk without getting dirty
Roads of Herculaneum
- smaller quieter town -> streets less marked by traffic
- storm drains + efficient underground sewage
Process of eruption
August 79 AD
- small tremors ppl paid no attention
- morning volcano erupted raining ash in countryside lava flowed onto farms
- some fled some stayed in houses for protection
- died by falling buildings/ poisonous gas/ buried by heavy falling ash
Economy of Pompeii
based on agriculture, land divided into farms most ppl worked in businesses, commercial centre made profit = wealth
Economy in Herculaneum
less understood (less evidence) little discovery about manufacturing, quieter resort town
Economy- trade
- varieties of wine and posted imported from Spain
- export trade was minimal
- remains of 20 warehouses (boats and fishing gear) = aspects of trade
Fullers
processed raw wool, handled spinning, weaving, dyeing and washing
Guild of Fullers = powerful org used camel urine to clean cloths
Evidence of economy
Images of Mercury God of commerce (shop, sales counter)
Bakery of Modestus- 81 loaves of bread recovered still in the oven where they were placed
Graffiti- “Cheers! We drink like wineskins!” heavy drinkers
Dolia/ amphorae
large base or container used for storage or transportation of goods
Garum
Fish sauce
Marcellum + pristina
market + bakery
Tabernae
Shops - 200 public eating and drinking places identified in Pompeii
Thermopolium
Snack bar
Cauponae
taverns
Influences on social structure
There was no middle class but strict hierarchy Factors: place of birth, citizenship status, wealth and city
Roman social structure
Upper strata: power and privilege
Lower strata: great diversity, life was hard
Clothing- distinguished social classes privileged wore togas others wore loosely belted tunics
Slaves could become freed citizens
Freedmen (liberti)
- freedom could be granted by owner/ purchase
- formed a significant amount of the pop many ran workshops, small businesses often with salves they had purchased
Women
- more freedom allowed to engage in public life
- role = look after husband, children and control finance
- not allowed to vote
- working women: servants, cleaners, prostitutes
Eumachia- business women, large building in forum political leverage for her son
Slaves
- made up 25% of pop at the time
- educated slaves = tutored owners children
- could be bought and sold as recorded on wax tablets/ passed on as inheritance
Municipal
Self-governing comprised of Roman citizens (P and H)