What were the basic differences and similarities between daily life in Israel and daily life in the Roman Empire. How did the people of the first century live, eat, dress, work, travel, learn, or enjoy entertainment? Include an overview of the typical life of a Jew in the first century. Which of these elements do you find most surprising? What similarities exist between the first century and today?
The difficulty in generally summarizing the life of people in the first century lies in the diversity between the Jewish and Roman societies as well as the diversity within the Jewish and Roman segments of society. For example, Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black explain that home construction in Palestine depended on the availability of natural resources, which may include stone, wood, or mud bricks (32). However, homes for the wealthy Palestinians were made of expensive durable materials, whereas the poor lived in homes with dirt or stone floors (Lea, 34). Roman homes for the wealthy normally included a form of central heating and plumbing, whereas the lower class lived in apartments (Lea, 34). The Palestinian diet included fruit, vegetables, and bread, but meat was expensive and not readily available (Lea, 34). A typical day included two meals, lunch and dinner, and social gatherings in the evenings after a day of difficult work (Lea, 34). The upper-class Roman society may include four meals a day with a diet of more exquisite cuisine (Lea, 35). It was common in the first century for individuals to wear tunics and women in Palestine to wear a veil as a head covering (Lea, 35). Construction, clothing, pottery, and metalworking were the primary industries in the first century; however, for Palestinian Jews, agriculture and fishing were the most common form of work (Lea, 38). Alternatively, industries like banking were common for the Romans (Lea, 38). Although Israel had three major roads so support its transportation system, the Romans constructed roads throughout its empire to facilitate commerce, but the primary source of transportation was water (Lea, 38). Education was important to both the Jews and the Romans. During New Testament times, rabbis started providing religious education to boys; however, the only education for girls was informal domestic training (Lea, 39). The Jewish education differed from the Greek’s who supported a liberal arts program for both boys and girls to at least the age of eighteen (Lea, 39). Palestinian Jews enjoyed singing and dancing along with various games, but unfortunately, Romans still utilized public games that included the murder of man and animals for entertainment (Lea, 39).
A couple surprising elements of first century life are the fact that the Romans were already advancing into primitive forms of central heating and plumbing as well as the highly developed infrastructure of an advanced education that was certainly influenced by the Platonic and Aristotelian legacies. Many similarities exist today with first century Jewish and Roman life including an emphasis on agriculture, education, banking, and other industries such as construction. The class distinctions, enjoyment of music and games, and diets are also similar to New Testament times.
Lea, Thomas D., and David Alan Black. The New Testament Its Background and Message. 2nd ed. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003.