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Ancient Roman Jobs
Categories of Ancient Roman Jobs
Ancient Roman Jobs
fell into various categories:
Political *** Administration *** Military *** Farming *** Trades *** Merchants *** Construction *** Religious *** Entertainment *** Artists *** Lawyers *** Teachers
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Politicians
The politicians of Ancient
Rome held the power and at first consisted of only
Patricians. As time went by the
Plebeians were also allowed to
take political office. Some of the jobs included the
following:
Senators who sat on the Chief
Council of Rome. There were about 600 members who reported directly
to the emperor *** Provincial Governors *** Magistrates
*** Quaestor *** Aedile *** Praetor *** Consul ***
Equites
also known as 'knights' and had control over administration and
finance *** Censor - maintain the census of citizens and senators
and collected taxes
The above links
and the article on
Roman
Government provides additional facts, descriptions and
information about these political jobs.
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Administrators, Lawyers and Teachers
Many administrators were
required to maintain the Government of Ancient Rome, some of
them are detailed as follows:
Procurator - An agent who
could hold a variety of posts and jobs from finance to
administration *** Publicanus - A tax collector *** Notarii - Clerks who kept the
minutes of meetings *** Rationalis - A high ranking
administrator in the finance office
There were also
jobs for the lawyers, the police, the firemen and the law
enforces such as jailors, torturers and executioners!
Teachers were required. Some of these were well educated
slaves but others assumed these positions. One of the
educational jobs was that of a Rhetor a teacher who was a
master of public speaking.
Ancient Roman Jobs - The
Military
It took a lot of soldiers
and a lot of military expertise to control the lands,
provinces and countries held by the Roman Empire. The Roman
army was a well oiled fighting machine, but the soldiers
were also expected to build roads and forts. There were
numerous ranks in the Roman Army, some such as General can
be compared to the modern day. Other ranks included
Centurion, Tribune and Legionaries. There were also
craftsmen who supplied services to the military such as
blacksmiths and metal workers.
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Farming
Farming jobs were necessary
to feed the Roman people. The jobs were similar to those
required in modern day farms such as planting, sowing,
reaping and harvesting. There were also the jobs associated
with mills and granaries. Much of the grain was imported
from different parts of the Empire notably Egypt. The
workers and slaves in the rural communities were essential
to the life of the towns.
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Religious
Priests were expected to
conduct many religious ceremonies, which included animal
sacrifices. Predictions of the future were made by studying
the entrails of animals. Important roles in the priesthood
could only be assumed by Patricians. Roles and jobs in the
priesthood included:The Augurs who were priests
who interpreted the will of the gods by studying the flight of the
birds which was known as "taking the auspices." *** A flamen was a priest assigned
to a state-supported god or goddess in Roman religion ***
Haruspex (plural haruspices)
was a man trained to practice a form of divination involving the
inspection of the entrails of sacrificed animals *** Vestal Virgins were the virgin
female priests of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth who maintained
the sacred fire of Vesta
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Trades
The tradesmen of Ancient
Rome included jobs for blacksmiths, weapon and shield
makers, toolmakes, expert builders, barbers and
hairdressers.
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Merchants
The role of merchants
increased with the size of the Roman Empire and the number
of goods that they were able to import. There were many
important trade centres, one of which was Capua which was
near to Rome and where the rich went on shopping
expeditions. Other merchants included bakers, fishmongers
and butchers and other food vendors.
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Construction Workers
Many slaves were used to
undertake the hard menial labour but skilled Romans such as
engineers and architects were necessary to build and
maintain the aqueducts, temples, basilicas, villas and
houses in Rome and the provinces.
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Entertainment
Keeping the people of Rome
was important especially in Rome which, due to the high
number of slaves, led to the majority of Plebeians being
unemployed and supported by the state. The Plebeians
demanded entertainment. The jobs surrounding the
entertainment industry included the oldest profession,
prostitution. The theatre played a large part in
entertaining the masses with plays and mimes. Chariot racing
was a highly lucrative profession. And of course there were
the gladiators. Many gladiators were slaves but some some
Romans chose this as a profession (ex-soldiers looking for
fame and glory. The chariot racing and gladiator combats
also gave way to another favorite - gambling. Just as today
gambling played a huge role in the leisure and entertainment
industry.
Ancient Roman Jobs -
Artists
Artists were required to
create sculptures, frescoes and the fabulous Roman mosaics.
Ancient Roman Jobs
The content of this Ancient Roman Jobs
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