In the City
Lower & Middle Class
Most lower and middle class citizens usually lived in apartments called insulae. Insulae provided cheap housing, and the construction of the building was not always up to par. They were built with timber or mud bricks, leading to frequent fires and collapses.
Three to five stories tall, these buildings housed thirty to fifty people in units of two rooms each. The bottom layer was used for shops and businesses, and provided a marketplace for items.
The Elites & Wealthy
The elite lived in large, single-family houses called Domus. These houses were much more luxurious and spacious compared to the insulae that most Romans lived in.
Some rooms in a Domus:
Vestibulum: A grand entrance hall that separated the private residence from the common shops.
Atrium: An open-roofed room used to greet guests and collect water.
Tablinum: An office or living room used by the man of the house.
Triclinium: A dining room.
Culina: The Kitchen.
Cubiculum: The Bedroom
In the Countryside:
The poor citizens usually lived in small shacks or cottages and the wealthy lived in large homes called villas. Villas were typically larger than their city homes because they included more rooms for exercise, storage, and baths.
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