Life in the Countryside

Most people in Roman Times actually lived in the countryside, where many people and slaves were employed to work on the land. The crops they grew depended on the climate, but would include grain (for bread), olives, grapes (for wine). Farm animals were also kept for milk, meat and wool.

Many of the farms were part of large estates owned by very wealthy landowners, and the countryside also contained villas, which were the second homes of wealthy townspeople.