If there was any society that regarded classes to differentiate the status of citizens, that society finds its perfect place among the ancient Romans. These classes similarly manifest in the Roman dwelling places. Apparently, there were several kinds of dwellings used by the ancient Romans in the cities and country side. The dwelling place was an important part of the dynamics of daily life and the socio-economy of the Roman world. This is what we will discuss below.
Domus
In ancient Rome, especially during the Republican and Imperial eras, the domus was a kind of house occupied by the wealthy freedmen and the upper-class …show more content…
A Villa is a Latin word that means a luxurious retreat center in the country or at the seashore. The villa in the ancient Rome had more space than the domus. This could be attributed to the fact that domus was built in cities with fortified walls that restrain enough space. Villa: Courtesy of Khan Academy
What is obvious about the villa is that it is not an urban structure rather the villa is a rural structure that is why most country-side structures in ancient Rome were typical villas. There are two types of villa; villa rustica (country villa), which was designed as a simple and humble structure where agricultural purposes were accomplished. For instance, this villa rustica was used as a permanent country house to accommodate slaves who cultivate grape farms of wealthy Romans while a supervisor (vilicus) oversees the work (Becker, n.d.). Another type of villa was called the villa Urbana. The villa Urbana was often built closer to the city so after a hectic work in the city, the owner of the villa could retreat and enjoy the pleasure of life. So from every indication, a typical villa had two zones; the rustica, which was the productive area and the Urbana area, which was design for absolute comfort, relaxation, and enjoyment. A villa generally …show more content…
Because they were tradesmen, they often lived above their stores while they rented the uppermost floor to renters. While their apartments were in a decent shape with running water, sanitized lavatories, and fairly decent rooms, the ones the Plebeians rented out were the opposite.
In conclusion, the domus, villa, and the Insula were the various kinds of dwellings used by the Ancient Romans in the cities and countryside. It apparently differentiated the social and economic status of the entire Roman