Live Like A Roman: Discovering the Secrets of Ancient Rome

by Claire Saunders, Claire Saunders

Live Like a Roman  is a fascinating and informative journey back in time to find out what it was really like to live in Ancient Rome and the sprawling Roman Empire.  Get ready to discover what it was like to live in this epic era of mad, bad emperors, wealthy senators, fearsome gladiators, loyal citizens, struggling lower classes and enslaved workers. With its highly structured and complicated society, life was a lavish and pampered affair for some and a harsh, beleaguered existence for others. Find out how this powerful civilisation invaded and conquered a massive area, including more than 50 million people at its peak! Amazing Roman inventions we still use today are explored along with information on everyday jobs, city life, houses, food, transport, entertainment, religion and medicine.  An in-depth map shows the spread of the Roman Empire at its peak, including sites of specific interest, the main provinces and settlements, with their Latin names, and some of the goods that were sent to Rome from all over the Empire. Dotted through the book are craft activities and recipes to have a go at. Find out first-hand what it’s like to play a Roman game for children, use an abacus to help with your schoolwork or taste the unusual flavours of Roman snacks. A fictional enslaved child pops up throughout the book describing the sights, sounds, smells and emotions he experiences as he goes about his daily life. 

56 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2023

About the author

Claire Saunders is a freelance writer and editor. A graduate of Cambridge University, she has been editing for over 20 years, and has worked on over two dozen titles for Ivy Kids. She has a son, 12, and a daughter, 10, and lives in Lewes in southern England.

Reviews

[kaitziez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Romans ate giraffe legs, brains of ostriches, flamingo tongues, and way more. So, let me ask you this: What kind of enzymes did they have back then to not die???

[Homeplayexplore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book will help answer some of the questions you may have about Roman times. You can even have a glimpse of Roman life for yourself with fun crafts and recipes on how to make an abacus, wax tablet, theatre mask and more.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rome. An ever-popular topic, a fascinating topic for budding historians of any age, a topic many children will cover in school. Rome is endlessly fascinating, its remains still cover Europe, some towering above us, some just small walls coming from the ground but its majesty is always clear. It’s myths and legends fascinate, the stories of its people, politics and more intrigue and fascinate. Many books for young people are set in Rome or the Roman World, may have time slips back to that place and of course there is always more to discover about it, more history to learn. Books are an excellent source and this one is ideal for both classroom and home.

Button Books new Live Like A Roman by Claire Saunders, masterfully illustrated in minute detail by Ruth Hickson, is an excellent reimagining of the Roman World, it is not set in one specific place but rather takes us through twenty three aspects of Roman live from being a slave to everyday jobs, making an abacus or a wax tablet, going to the baths, life in the army, at the chariot races and the banquet - ending with some Roman recipes to try. Full of detail we are guided through the book, through the life of a Roman by a fictional child who pops up now and then to share with us the sights, sounds, smells and emotions he experiences. Real life Romans are presented along with real examples of daily life and plenty of opportunities to try your hand at Roman crafts and cooking. A truly comprehensive, fascinating book.