How to Survive in Ancient Rome

by L.J. Trafford, Lucy Rayner (Narrator)

The essential self-help guide to living in Ancient Rome, covering all areas of everyday life in this ancient civilization, from religious beliefs and travel through to what to wear.

Imagine you were transported back in time to Ancient Rome and you had to start a new life there. How would you fit in? Where would you live? What would you eat? Where would you go to have your hair done? Who would you go to if you got ill, or if you were mugged in the street?

All these questions, and many more, will be answered in this new how-to guide for time travelers. Part self-help guide, part survival guide, this lively and engaging book will help the listener deal with the many problems and new experiences that they will face, and also help them to thrive in this strange new environment.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Audiobook, Ancient

Audible Audio

First published November 11, 2020

About the author

L.J. Trafford studied Ancient History at the University of Reading after which she took a job as a Tour Guide in the Lake District.
Moving to London in 2000 she began writing ‘The Four Emperors’ series. The series comprises four books – Palatine, Galba’s Men, Otho’s Regret and Vitellius’ Feast – which cover the dramatic fall of Nero and the chaotic year of the four emperors that followed.
Palatine, published in 2015, received an Editor’s Choice Mark from the Historical Novel Society. Her first book for Pen and Sword, How to Survive in Ancient Rome was published in October 2020.
Sex and Sexuality in Ancient Rome was published in 2021

Reviews

[Mark Porton · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Survive in Ancient Rome by L.J. Trafford is a snappy, all encompassing digest of Ancient Rome during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 CE). Our hosts are a former imperial slave and now secretary to Domitian and a 'lady of leisure' one of the ultra-rich ruling elite. It would've been nice to have the perspective of a slave or a low-born Roman Citizen from the Subura - but the sources are a bit light on with first hand accounts from this cohort.

This is a good, basic introduction to pretty much everything. Typical chapter headings include Family, Housing, Clothing, Food, Shopping, Entertainment, Medicine, Religion - the lot! Hence, the book doesn't go into any great detail - but that's the the purpose of this book. The many sources quoted in the Bibliography are sound, and the facts as stated, seem consistent with other readings. There are numerous illustrations, but I would have liked to have seen even more, particularly more coloured pictures and maps. These would really help, there are lots of wee "Did You Know?" boxes throughout and these are always good, they keep things lively.

The book doesn't only discuss life during the period of Domitian (he was one of the bad ones by the way) the author also goes back and forwards in time. We learn about Rome from the very beginning, yes - Romulus and Remus. We also read a nice summary of the period before the Republic, ie. the period of The Kings. My favourite being Tarquinus Superbus (534 BCE - 510 BCE) - largely because of that cracking name.

This is perfect for those who are new to the subject or school kids. It would be a good coffee-table book.

Did You Know? The poet Martial knew of a man who hung around the public latrines all day in the hope of securing a dinner party invitation..

Apparently, public toilets were great places to chat, gossip and make friends.


A place to sit and chat

Overall, this was good fun.

3 Stars

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

[MAP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, light, humorous book that walks you through both the day to day aspects of Ancient Rome like how to buy your groceries and what to wear, but also larger things like how politics work and views on health and religion.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those intro level history books that’s accessible and funny, as well as being genuinely informative. It could well be more amusing to those who know the context, or just to history geeks like me, but however much you do or don’t know, the book offers a great way in to Ancient Rome. Filled as much with day to day details as with high politics, this is the kind of stuff you’re not always taught. All the little things that give you a sense of what life was like. I’d love to use it in my lessons, because if there’s any way to reel people into the past, it’s to get them to feel that tug of genuine curiosity— and there’s more than enough here to bait the hook.

ARC via Netgalley

[Olga Miret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thank Rosie Croft, from Pen & Sword for providing me a paperback ARC of this book, which I freely chose to review.
I am not an expert on Ancient Rome, but you don’t need to be to enjoy this title. In fact, I think this is a great entry-level book for those who want to learn a few things about Rome but don’t have much time or/and don’t fancy having to trudge through huge History books, but would rather a light read that gives them an overview of what life was like at the time.
This book is pretty similar to many modern guide books; it offers the basic information somebody who is completely new to a place needs to survive there and not get into any trouble. It contains black and white pictures, charts and illustrations summarising important timelines, providing examples of civil clothing and uniforms, sketches and maps, and also boxes highlighting important and curious facts under the title ‘Did you know?’ There’re also an index and a bibliography for those who might want to carry on reading about the topic after this introduction.
The actual book is set in 95 CE, and I particularly enjoyed the author’s decision to introduce two narrators or guides. They can provide us with first-hand insights into the social mores and everyday life in the era: one, Hortensia, is a lady of noble birth, and she tells us how it is to be female in Ancient Rome (not fun, let me tell you, even if you are well-off), and the other one, Titus Flavius Ajax, a freed man, was formerly an imperial slave and is now secretary to the emperor. This provides us with pretty informal but eminently practical information, giving it a personal touch that is otherwise missing from most standard guide or history books.
The entire book is written in a colloquial and easy-to-read manner, full of funny and amusing touches. That does not mean it is lightweight, as the depth of knowledge of the author is clearly in evidence, and there is plenty of factual historical information included as well. But it is seamlessly incorporated into the various chapters, and it does not feel heavy or dry.
The book is divided up in chapters, each one covering one of the basic topics. There is an introduction of two chapters offering a summary of the basic history of Rome up to that point, and another one offering more detailed information about the situation in 95 CE. The other chapters discuss subjects such as: social structure, family, clothing, accommodation, shopping, food and diet, entertainment, health and medicine, work, warfare, religion and beliefs, law and order, and politics. The end matter of the book includes the bibliography and index already mentions, as well as a section of acknowledgements and one of notes corresponding to each chapter. I’ve already said I’m not an expert, although I’ve read a few books set in Ancient Rome, and, like most people, watched a few movies and series, but I have to admit I learned many details I had no idea about, and I got a much clearer sense of what life was like on a day to day basis for all the people living in Rome, and not only the kings and emperors.
People who prefer to make sure they like the style of writing before going ahead with a purchase can check a sample online. Just in case, I´m sharing a few snippets here, that I found amusing/intriguing.

‘Most of Rome is propped up with planks to stop it falling down’ comments the poet, Juvenal, drily. Even Cicero, who presumably could afford a decent block, complained that two of his invested rental properties had collapsed.

Demolishing this palace was a gesture by Emperor Vespasian that he was going to give back to the people, rather than taking from them. The Jewish Wars having just been settled meant that Vespasian, rather handily, had a lot of booty and a lot of slaves to build his grand edifice.

Did you know? The Roman punishment for patricide is most bizarre. The culprit was sewn up in a leather sack with a dog, a monkey, a snake and a cockerel, then rolled into the river.

This is an informative and entertaining book, offering quite a novel way to learn about Ancient Rome to those who aren’t fond of standard history books or prefer an informal and bite-sized approach. I recommend it to those interested in the topic and looking for a starter text, and also to people looking for a gift that combines educational value and amusement. Highly recommended.

[Filip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a serious academic publication but it doesn't pretend to be one. It even provides factually incorrect information but only from an in-universe perspective (yeah, Domitian being kind and noble and merciful...). It is more of a tl,dr on the history of Ancient Rome at this particular moment in time. If its goal is, as I believe, to make one feel the atmosphere of Rome, give one a good imagining how the laws, customs, politics of that time looked and worked, it definitely succeeds at this. My problem is rather with the form in which this information is presented. The very informal, humorous, not entirely serious tone seems as if the book was more suitable for children but for that it dwells a little too much on sex, rape, torture and other favourite Roman pastimes. I'm not entirely sure who is the intended audience for this book, but still, I must say I liked it. One can almost treat it as a form of a reference book, getting the most important facts about how life really looked in Rome without going through many, often more difficult to digest, scientific books.

[Craig Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really good book that takes you back to the heart of Rome. And helps you experience what it was like to live Rome

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most entertaining secondary sources I've ever read, ranking alongside A Fatal Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Murder in Ancient Rome for depth of information alongside a dose of humor.

The book is impeccably researched and presented as a guide to behavior, finding food, finding work, and avoiding punishments in 91 CE Rome. LJ Trafford not only provides a look at daily life; she proves that she's done her homework. There's an extensive bibliography that includes contemporary sources like Suetonius. The footnotes are just as entertaining as the main text; don't skip them!

I'll be adding other books by this author to my reading list.

[Adam P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Na plus gawędziarski ton i naprawdę dużo ciekawostek, które pobudzają zainteresowanie kochanym Rzymem. Do tego podział treści był idealny i faktycznie można się wdrożyć w styl życia przeciętnego obywatela Rzymu. Mimo to duży minus za często nieśmieszne, boomerskie żarty, jakby autorka, czy może tłumacz silili się na błyskotliwość. Nie przemówił też do mnie zabieg wycięcia raptem kawałka historii SPQR i pominięcie reszty, szczególnie rozpadu imperium :cc
Summa summarum, książka spełniła oczekiwania jako przyjemne czytadło

[ella 🥀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
This was a really fun, quick read about life in Ancient Rome, from politics to hairstyles, medicine to food. It is deceptively informative, because the writing style is informal and funny so you don't realise how much you actually learn! This book is accessible to everyone, no matter how much you know about the Romans. If you do want extra information, I recommend you read the author notes throughout. However, there were a few aspects that I think could have been explored further, like politics/the cursus honorum and the history of Rome. What it did do really well though was the social side and the inclusion of women and slaves in Roman life.

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spritely hop through deep and heavy history of ancient Rome, touching on several different topics with a lightness that will irritate the hardcore history crowd and delight casual readers. As someone with a light-to-moderate interest in ancient Rome (as in, I'll watch a documentary, but it's unlikely I'll read a book larger than this) it was just enough to keep me entertained and give me a handful of fun facts to spout off when there's a lull in conversation.

(Like, did you know ancient Romans washed their clothes in pee? Fun.)

Also, I laughed out loud many times.

Recommended for people who like to breeze through some miscellaneous nonfiction now and then.

arc received from the publisher for review

[Maggie May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and told in a fun, casual way. I like that there was a lot about everyday life, including all of the people often left out of history lessons.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Survive in Ancient Rome is a light, informal introduction to Roman history that moves along sprightly and with some tongue-in-cheek humor. The book is divided into several sections: Social Structure, Family, Clothing, Accommodation, Shopping, Food and Diet, Entertainment, Health and Medicine, Work, Warfare, Religion, Law and Order, and Politics.

As you can see from the listing and the placement of the political at the end, this is less a typical history and more one that focuses on day-to-day existence in the empire across time (it was around a while, after all, so things were hardly static). Some more specific examples of that daily existence coverage include contraception (vulture dung, boiled mule testicles), laundry (“vast vats of stale urine”), the games (bring a cushion, “the stone seats can be very hard on the bum), and more.

If you’ve read much on Rome, you might not find a lot new here. I’m far from a scholar and still knew much here, but I did highlight some new information, such as how Rome penalized men and women for being single, something I hadn’t come across before. If you have read about Rome, the benefit here is less the information itself but how it is quickly and concisely presented, making it a good read to refresh your memory as well as give you a good overview sense not bogged down in too many names (all those emperors!) or too many other details. If you haven’t read much, then it certainly serves as a very good intro, clearly written and structured, covering enough to inform but not overwhelm, and leaving you with a solid if not hefty sense of how the basic empire worked for most people. Your reaction to the humor will be highly personal; I found it hit and miss, probably leaning a bit toward the miss, but not so much that it was an issue. The book is enhanced by a good number of visuals, always a plus. There’s also a decent list of sources for those looking for more detail, though a separate recommended list of titles would have been welcome. It’s a book that skates smoothly along the surface, so helping readers find the depths if they wish would have been helpful.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, witty and full to the brim of absolutely fascinating information, this book is unlike any other I've read on ancient Rome, and I've read a LOT. There is so much I want to blurt out but don't want to spoil the fun for anyone.

We are taken on a wondrous journey by foot through Rome 2,000 years ago learning about emperors, wars, punishments, clothing, food, slaves, corruption (fire fighters wait to be bribed before putting out fires and no policing), how years and months are determined, politics, entertainment, occupations (any poisoner applicants?), family naming (Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus Divi Filius or having five Julias in one household), etc. Having visited Rome many times myself, it was easy to experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes through the author's words but even if you haven't been there (go!) you will feel you are in the middle of the action.

The first part of the book introduces us to the founding of Rome including a helpful timeline, followed by The Republic years. I had no idea Rome had peace, no war, for only one year over a span of nearly 500 years. Then comes the Empire years where we learn about known and unknown emperors, how they looked and how they died. Be sure to read the author notes, too.

Have questions? This engaging book has answers plus answers questions you didn't know you had! It is not textbook-ish or encyclopedic whatsoever but written simply and so funny I giggled many times throughout.

Such a great book to read before going to Rome. Or read it if you are intrigued by ancient Rome. The writing style makes details easy to remember, as do illustrations and photographs. I regaled my mom with information all morning!

My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this delightful book. Much appreciated.

[Anne Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How to Survive in Ancient Rome" is an entertaining look at daily life in ancient Rome (specifically in 95 CE under the Emperor Dominitian). Homes, food, travel, shopping, and entertainment are all covered in an irreverently British-style humor that had me imagining the book read to me by Stephen Fry (or often Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc of the Great British Bake Off). Dry wit combines with stories told to us 'by a Roman' help readers learn how to navigate visiting the greatest city in the world without (probably) getting killed. Although unless you are a Roman citizen, male, and of an age to enter politics, this book might convince you that time-traveling there for more than a few hours is not, in fact, a life choice you want to make. Unless you like eels. and enjoy such perfect health that you never, ever need to visit anyone claiming to be a doctor. Plenty of fun "Did You Know" facts and descriptions to make the reader feel like you are actually there. A fun read, and a good way to introduce history to people who believe it is just boring dates.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[Shoggothey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Po nieudanym kontakcie z "Jak przeżyć w starożytnej Grecji" postanowiłem spróbować, po dłuższej przerwie, Rzymu. No i właśnie dzięki tej książce odzyskałem nadzieję na to, że Egipt i być może kolejne odsłony 'cyklu' będą o wiele ciekawsze.

Dostajemy naprawdę ciekawy poradnik tego, jak wygląda życie w starożytnym Rzymie. Oczywiście większość to podstawy, które czytelnik poznał już w szkole, ale autorka tak świetnie operuje słowem i wplata naprawdę śmieszne zdania, że czytało się to z wielką przyjemnością. Poza wyżej wymienionymi podstawami dostajemy również mało znane ciekawostki w formie wtrąceń, dzięki którym mamy kilka sekund na odzyskanie skupienia.

Autorka nie wymusza na czytelniku jednej ścieżki, którą podąży, ale daje nam spory wybór - jesteśmy kobietą lub mężczyzną, poznajemy różne rodzaje mieszkań i domów, strojów, prac i zabaw, pożywienia itp. Tak więc wiemy jak wyglądało życie nie tylko z jednej, już narzuconej przez autorkę perspektywy, ale dowiadujemy się o każdym aspekcie życia nizin jak i wyżyn społecznych.

Polecam i liczę na to, że kolejne książki będą równie ciekawe i wciągające!

[Darius Ostrowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun and interesting guide to everyday life in ancient Rome, “How to Survive in Ancient Rome” by L J Trafford is a quick read that answers many questions about how people actually lived 2,000 years ago.

Like any good guidebook, there is a bit of history to start: the founding of Rome and how it grew from a city on the Tiber to a large empire, from kings to republic to empire. Then we get into the interesting stuff that one would need to know if one was to move to the capital: politics, social classes, jobs, the roles of women and slaves (not good), food, living arrangements, entertainment, religion, hygiene, and other issues that may arise. There is a good bit of humor throughout the book, as well as extensive footnotes and additional information for anyone that wants to know more.

I requested and received a free advanced electronic copy from Pen & Sword via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Carlos Eliseo Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Trafford's informative and entertaining description of daily life in Rome. Her book introduces us to the joys and pains of living in Ancient Rome. The author shows us the city's splendors and horrors, guiding us as if we were visiting the city with plans to reside there. It even includes a real estate advertisement from Pompeii. Sources are noted, and an index is included.

"Apartments can be rented long term or even by the day if you fancy a short stay. Look out for notices of available abodes scrawled onto the walls of the city, such as this example from Pompeii:
The city block of the Arni Pollii in the posession of Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius is available to rent from July 1st. There are shops on the first floor, upper stories, high-class rooms and a house. A person interested in renting this property should contact Primus, the slave of Gnaeus Alleius Nigidius Maius." (35)

[Zaczytana_olcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pierwsza książka z tego cyklu Wydawnictwa Poznańskiego. Przykład ciekawy, ale nie perfekcyjny.

Starożytny Rzym jest bardzo ciekawy. Moje lubienie się z antykiem trwa od czasów szkoły podstawowej, więc przychylnym wzrokiem patrzę na takie publikacje.

Można powiedzieć, że jest to bardzo krótkie kompendium wiedzy o Rzymie w całokształcie. Krótkie noty historyczne, co nieco o polityce, prawie, ale również o żywności, medycynie czy ubiorze. Wszystko zostało przedstawione w humorystycznym stylu. Styl ten jednak był przyswajalny tylko przez pewien czas, po kilkudziesięciu stronach wrzucane co chwila żarty były dodawane jakby na siłę i stały się zwyczajnie męczące.

Dla wielkich fanatyków starożytnego Rzymu książka ta nie będzie żadnym novum. Uważam, że jest to pozycja bardziej dla osób z historią antyku nieobeznanych na co dzień.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging, witty, and informative guide to 1st Century Rome for the prospective time traveller. Should you be planning a trip to The Eternal City during the reign of Domitian you will have lots of burning questions about the history, culture and social structure plus concerns about how to stay safe. This fascinating book tells you all you need to know and provides great entertainment too. LJ Trafford clearly has a wealth of knowledge and ample enthusiasm for the subject; great for both newbies to Roman history or the more experienced history nerd.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and to the publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes real skill to turn the facts of history into pure fun, and L. J. Trafford has managed it with style and class. A book hasn't made me laugh so much for a long time, though I have come to the conclusion that life in Ancient Rome isn't for me... I'll settle for reading about it instead! "How to Survive in Ancient Rome" is amusing, witty, laugh-out-loud funny at times, and heaped with information that I'll never use (I hope!).

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

[Eileen Iciek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun exploration of some of the more arcane elements of Roman society, told with the author's usual sense of humor. I've spent many years reading about the Romans, but I never knew about their habit of keeping eels for pets, even providing them with jewelry. They also might drink perfume or eat flamingos. On the other hand, reading about their politics - buying votes, hecklers, elected officials forgetting about voters the day after the election - all appeared to be depressingly familiar in modern times.

Highly recommended!

[Trevin Sandlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyably light journey through the life of what it would be like to live in Rome during the height of the Flavian Dynasty (with pictures of life before and after at times as well). Written as a travel guide of sorts. I didn't come away with a bunch of new insights into the Roman persona or Roman culture/history, but then again...I know a lot of that already from previous reads/watches/listens. But still...a lot of fun and recommended for anyone who wants a colorful background on ancient Rome and it's society (as opposed to battles, emperors, etc.).

[Beth Younge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read i liked it for the most part. The information was handled well but it did seem a bit surface level at times and it was a lot shorter than i thought it would be. This was accessible for everyone which makes it a good entry text for those who are newer to Roman history but for those who need a deeper look, there are better books.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informational

This books gives the reader a good idea of what life was like in Rome under Domitian. It's a wonder anyone ever made it to an old age. It's written with quite a bit of humor, while still imparting a lot of information. I had to take away one star, however, because of how badly it is written. Are there no longer any editors? One howler is when the author meant to write incantation and wrote incarnation in error.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about everyday life in Ancient Rome.
It's an engrossing, well written and well researched book that made me laugh and kept me hooked.
An excellent way to learn, it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[AcademicEditor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, approachable guide to how people lived in Roman times. Covers a wide range of topics. Would work for middle grade and HS as a supplement to a literature or history unit.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

[po.czytane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Nie tak dobra, jak „Jak przeżyć w starożytnym Egipcie”, ale wciąż bawiłam się doskonale. Właściwie można ją połknąć na jedno posiedzenie, zwłaszcza jeśli lubicie czytać o historii i czasach starożytnych. Jeśli groziłoby wam przeniesienie się w czasie do starożytnego Rzymu, to chcielibyście mieć tę książkę przy sobie.

[Jack Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snappily written overview of life in the Rome of 95 CE

Trafford's writing is always entertaining and this is a great entry-level book for anyone curious about what life was like in first century Rome. Packed with facts and anecdotes it strikes a good balance, and although it could have done with another round of proofreading it's a very fun read.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is set during the reign of Emperor Domitian as two people of that era give you a guided tour of the town and empire, and does a good job covering the history of Rome up until that point. It tries a little too hard to be funny rather than just relaying on the history itself, and ends very abruptly with no wrap up or conclusion. Still, good coverage of the early imperial era.

[Mike Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narrated with at times tongue on cheek attitude by Lucy Rayner.
The guide aspect that one might expect is really a sidenote. It does cover ancient Roman every day life well. Beginner friendly, at times dull to more well read listeners.
Very limited moralizing. Even though most of this was familiar I still learned new things.