Ancient Rome: When Being a Teen was Tough
Being a teenage in ancient Rome wasn't easy. There were no X-box 360's to play or cars to drive, or even chariots to cruise around in. Don't get me wrong, there were chariots, but the only teens that got to drive them were those young men going off to fight the latest Roman war, or, if they were lucky enough, race around the colliseum, a sport that often resulted in death.
According to A Glimpse of Teenage Life in Ancient Rome
The video was created by Ray Laurence, a classics professor, from the University of Kent.
How is being a teen tough today? Do you see any parallels between the world of today's teenagers and the teenagers of ancient Rome?
According to A Glimpse of Teenage Life in Ancient Rome
while your average American teenager devotes more than seven hours a day to imbibing media – to watching TV, playing video games, hanging out on Facebook — the average 17-year-old Roman kid (circa 73 AD) had some more serious business to deal with. Like mastering reading and writing in two languages, fighting in imperial wars, taking care of (obscenely young) spouses and various other items.See for yourself:
The video was created by Ray Laurence, a classics professor, from the University of Kent.
How is being a teen tough today? Do you see any parallels between the world of today's teenagers and the teenagers of ancient Rome?
Today being a teenager is a lot easier than it was in the ancient roman times. The responsibility level must have been much higher. Today teens for the most part don't have much responsibility other than school and their sport. I believe that maybe we should take a look at this and recognize how easy we have it. We can maybe try to be more productive and accomplish more in a day other than playing video games and messing around. The ancient roman teens were doing "adult" tasks when in present time we feel we have all the time in the world to work hard so why not play now work later.
ReplyDeleteThe lifestyle in Ancient Rome compared to a curent everyday American teenager is blatantly different. For instance during 73 AD education showed rank and how much respect a person should receive. Fortunately today we have much more greater opportunities to the point that education is not a luxury its an expectation. Although a part of education today is the athletic opportunities public high schools and even private high schools offer. They dont involve dangerous carriage races around the coliseum but instead how far we can push are selfs physically instead of in the books. Ancient Romans are very different but similar to the everyday American teenager.
ReplyDelete-Anna Froemming
Being a teen in today's world is not tough at all. In my opinion, we actually have it easy, way easier than the teens from Ancient Rome. Some expectations we may have to fulfill are getting our license, getting a job, getting good grades, and living up to our parents's expectations. But as I learned in the video, Lucius made it over the hill at the age of 15, he also finished school and learned how to fight in the war at the age of 17. While I would say the significant ages of our generation are 16 and 18, because at 16, you can get your license and get a job at some places, and at 18 you can buy lottery tickets, vote, and get arrested. We have it so much easier than teens in the time of Ancient Rome.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager is tough now a days because of all of the options teenagers have. It is also hard because that is the stage where they start making their own decisions. Even though there are a lot of differences there are some similarities between teenagers in the roman age and now. For example they both have people around them who have really high expectations on them. Another thing is they both do sports and like to have fun. Being a teenager is tough no matter what year it is
ReplyDeleteCompared to Ancient Rome being a teen in today's society is much MUCH easier. There was alot more violence back in those days whereas now if you go out to play you don't have to worry as much about arrows being shot at your head or you getting drafted to go fight into a Roman War. Our responsibilities is just to show up to school, get a license/job, and take care of our younger siblings. Basically, be a kid. Back then I'm sure their main concern was staying alive and providing food and shelter for their families. I don't see much of a parallel between the worlds because Ancient Rome lived in a time full of much more difficulties than now.
ReplyDeleteThere is a big difference that sets us teenagers apart form those of Ancient Rome.For example, at age 17 Lucius already knew how to speak 2 languages and useful skills taught outside of the class room like swimming, running and even fighting in war. In our time most 17 year old just go to school and don't bother learning outside the classroom. Lucius has more expected for him where as now a days 17 year olds are seen still as immature and not trust worthy. There were higher expectations back then and the 17 year olds were more mature in a sense.
ReplyDeleteteenagers this day in age seem to be more lazy top me than the kids in ancient rome. in ancient rome, kids were expected to grow up fast and become a man or woman. but this day in age, teens are still living off of their parents, living at home, and are free loaders with no jobs. as time continues on, it seems as if teenagers get more lazy each generation and each year.
ReplyDeleteIn some ways being a teen today is hard, but being a teen in Ancient Rome was probably much more difficult. All of the new technological advancements have made our present day lives so much easier. Today's teens have it hard by ways of communicating. Teens are so used to texting and the 'cool, hip' new way to spell words, that when it comes to writing an essay they forget all of the correct rules and punctuation. Ancient Roman teens have it way harder though, they had to do things on their own, meaning that things weren't already done for them or that there wasn't an easy way to finish things. For example, calculators and computers help today's teens finish their homework or complete a math problem. If a Roman teen wanted to complete a math problem, they would have to do it step by step each step of the way.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager is tough today because there is so much we have to juggle. For instance, like in the ancient Roman times we have to go to school and that takes up a lot of time and energy. Also, we have to work either to pay for school or to have spending money. Sure, we don't have to get married right away, but we do have relationships and those take up the most time and energy. Also we have to make time for our friends. All these factors cause stress if not prioritized. So I would say being a teenager these days is as hard as being a teenager in the ancient times.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is a little harder to be a teenager today because we have different kinds of responsibility. We have to balance school which dose not end with the school day because there is still homework and studying, a part time job, and household responsibilities like chores and what not. Sure the living conditions and life expectancy in accent Rome were not great, but there come similarities as well. Like the Roman teenager we have certain duties and responsibilities but are not truly treated adult because our parents still do a lot for us.
ReplyDeleteIf we compare teen’s life from Rome and America. I am very sure the kids are from Rome have a very hard life. Most of the kids in the countries kids don’t have X-box or any kind of game systems to play. First of all those things are really expensive in these countries and people can’t afford them. The kids spend most of their time reading and playing sports in their town. In America kids really just can get anything they want. They have more freedom but also kids have so much stress in their mind. Sometime they get into bad stuff and they never get out. For example : Drugs and Gangs. In other countries most of the time kids are in front of their eyes so most likely they are not getting it into this kind of stuff. I didn’t have any kind of game system in my whole life. I survived without it . I think everybody should thank for what they have not complain about what they don’t have.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with the fact that teenagers have it easy these days. They are faced with the same priorities containing school, a job, chores and other activities but they tend to focus more on other things. Given their technology such as television, cell phones, and computers, their attention is drawn from their tasks and redirected to these objects. The technology has made the same work romans were doing very easy, fast and convenient. Roman teenagers would be given the same chores but they would dedicate themselves to them because they were not distracted by the outside activities. They would devote their days to helping their families and societies better themselves.
ReplyDeletebein a teen is hard cus my mom said that this is the years that act wild
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager today is hard but then again it can be very easy. Take for instance that the average teen does play video games all day and rock out on the phone for most of the day. Some teens say its so hard because of school and stress so maybe life is hard. My life is mediocre hard and easy because I am the one who males it hard and easier. The only parallel I can see between the two world are the taking care of young spouses and kids.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager in this day an age is the easiest it's ever been for any generation. ALl you really have to do is do as your told and the rest will follow suit. We have the best technology availible at our disposal, and teenagers today don't really get hit, for disciplinary reasons anymore.
ReplyDeleteI believe that I personally have it way easier than the teenage lives of Ancient Romans. Since I'm the baby in the family, I don't need to take care of any of my siblings. My parents won't make me work as long as I stay in school and do good. Also, I don't have to worry about fighting in wars or learning two languages. When it's time to graduate college, then I'll be doing adult things like the Ancient Roman teens. Thankfully, there is still a few years of having it easy.
ReplyDeleteI believe that being a teenager these days is very easy and fun compared to Roman teenagers. A similarity i can compare to a Roman is knowing how to read and write two languages, I have been able to read and write Spanish since i was 12. Other than that, some teenagers now a days have everything we need and don't need. For example, having video games and iPods are things we don't need but have. Teenagers do have some responsibilities like going to school,work, and helping around the house.But that is nothing hard to do compared to having to pay bills and rent, and supporting a family. Im happy I was a teenager this generation rather than having a hard life like a roman teenager.
ReplyDeleteComparing a teenagers life of modern day to a Roman teenagers life you can tell that modern day teenagers are drastically different. Teenagers now a days have life very easy from the aspect that responsibilities have drastically changed. Now a days a teenager can go on and live with at home for the rest of his life while in the Roman times they would have been shipped off to war to fight for their country. Also kids now have the privilege of having fun while before they would have to train for the war and that would take up most of their lives. In this aspect I do not really see any parallel comparisons to todays teens since now they have the freedom of choice. Another responsibility aspect is that the kids in the Roman times were forced to learn two languages while now people have the choice if they want to learn a language or not.
ReplyDeleteI do believe everything is easier in today's society, not only for teenagers but even adults. Ancient Roman teenagers were not our typical teenager, they were more like today's adults. Teenagers in Ancient Roman society had similar responsibilities but they had to work twice as hard to get the same results we get in two seconds. Technology has a lot to do with making our lives easier. We can do our homework and send it to our teachers through our phones. Also I think majority of todays teenagers have far less responsibilities teenagers in Ancient Rome had. Most teenagers have the one responsibility of just going to school and maybe some chores around the house but for the most it is nothing compared to the chores Ancient Roman teenagers had. Their responsibilities consisted of helping the father work in the field and helping their mothers watch over the children and cleaning and cooking basically anything that would help them for when they become parents. We do have it easier today, most teenagers don't have to stay home and help take care of their siblings but they are able to go out and party instead. I am glad that I am a teenager in this time of era instead of Ancient Rome because it seems to hard for me.
ReplyDeleteBeen a teen today is much easier compared to ancient Rome because the technology is making studying and doing things like research much faster and easier.Communication has also improved thanks to the invention of cell phones, social sites and the internet. Today's teenager is living the dream of operating in a world that is now a global village therefore they have the advantage to connect with other people from around the world unlike the teen of the ancient Rome.But on the other hand today's teen are at risk of getting certain diseases such as obesity because they spend so much of their free time sitting down to watch television, play games, chat on social sites and eat. They have been addicted to technology and do not exercise.Teenagers of ancient Rome had to work extra hard to get things done. For example, they had to read several books and interview people and travel to get certain information that today's teen get freely on the internet. Also teens of ancient Rome were more creative and were not spoon fed by their teachers and parents.
ReplyDeleteThere is a drastic difference between the life of a teenager today, compared to the teenagers of ancient Rome because in the time of ancient Rome there was far more responsibility put on a 17 year then in modern time. However, there are still many teenagers that have to grow up quickly just like the teens of ancient Rome but due to how times have changed the demand for teens to grow up quickly isn't as high as it was when teens were growing up in the ancient time.Technology has a enormous impact of why teens arent being rushed into adulthood, the progress of technology is one of the reason teens aren't treated the same as they would have back in ancient Rome
ReplyDeleteWhere I'm from being a teenager is some what same as ancient Rome, no they don't do hours of work and learn multiple languages. Well actually some do, the way they speak around their neighborhood and the way they HAVE to speak in another neighborhood. In Los Angeles for an African American male its a battlefield, you have the Bloods and the Crips. By the time a young man is 13 year olds, depending on how they grew up, they will either be "put on" to either gang or claim being from that gang by association; sometimes they don't even gangbang. Once they established where they are from or even if its known where they live their life is in danger. Now and days you don't even have to be in a gang, just Sunday I got news that a young man who was 19 years old got shot and killed outside of a club. Being only 19 I have witnessed more than fifteen people who never even made it to see their 20th birthday, some never even seen their 18th birthday. If they are not in a casket by 18 they are behind bars or awaiting trial. Turning 21 is more than a blessing its almost a miracle now and days, L.A. is a battlefield and even innocent lives are at war. Now don't get me wrong we have it way easier than the ancient Rome teens. However, where I'm from they still get ready for battle and "bang" their territory even if it means death and for most of them it does.
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ReplyDeleteCompared to being teens in Ancient Rome and being teens today are very different. In Ancient Rome, there were no sort of technology that existed then so their form of leisure time is tagging along with their parents and doing important errands that sometimes required the entire day. Also, unlike today, teens in Ancient Rome (or any country at that time) were arranged into marriages rather than given a choice to choose their companion. There were to be no objections especially if family were involved, since at that time, teens rarely spoke out to their parents as a form of obedience. Also, teens in Ancient Rome were usually at the age to be fit for defending their country so responsibility became important to them. Teenagers today have it a lot easier, with the addition of technology, that take up most of their free time such as social networks, video games and etc. With the implement of these technologies, teens are too engrossed in them rather than preparing to deal with the responsibilities that will eventually come up.
ReplyDeleteIt goes without saying that the average teenager today has it incomparably easier than the average teen in ancient Roman culture. What stuck out most to me in the video was the level of responsibly expected from teenagers in ancient Rome, while today's teenagers and young adults are given less and less responsibility as our society advances. For example, if you asked the average teenager to get an A in their Spanish class they'd probably think you were being unreasonable, whereas in ancient Rome they would not only be expected to "learn" two languages, but to master them both verbally and on paper. Any teen today who's taken a high school language class would tell you that being fluent in the language is a lofty goal. Not only that, but to do so while married to a bride under the age of ten would most likely be perceived as impossible, and that's only if you were lucky and didn't die from a disease or war by that point.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager in Ancient Rome is much easier than being a teenager today because nowadays, children sometimes have to raise themselves and figure out what they want to do in life and who they want to end up with. With all the technology going around, children are influenced by many things on the internet. Whether it may be positive or negative, the internet exposes these teenagers to crazy things, for example, violence and sex. During the Ancient Roman days, these children were mostly influenced by their parents and what they wanted them to believe and didn't really need to think about anything else. Roman teenagers had their lives planned for them and were able to educate and learn many things that a lot of teenagers now do not care for anymore. Although Ancient Romans had to worry about dying at a young age, teenagers now; are being shot, murdered, and beaten everyday. These causes aren't natural, they are forced. The world before cannot compare to the issues and stress teenagers nowadays have to go through.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teen today is much easier than it was to be a teen in Rome, because Roman teens were though of as adults where as teens today are still considered children. Most 17 years old today are finishing up high school so that they could go on to complete their education at a university, junior college, or vocational school. A Roman teenager at the age of 17 is finishing up their schooling, and are fluent in Latin and Greek. Not only are the Roman teens well educated, but they are getting married, and going off to war while teens today are preparing to go to Prom. This makes teens today sound like they are not only slacking, but immature. However, their are a few parallels between the world of today's teenagers and the teenagers of ancient Rome. Teens today and in Ancient are not trusted to handle business deals, that job rest with the parents. Also, both are know to have big celebrations when they turn 15 or 16, even though today its not really a major accomplishment when they make it out of their teen years alive.
ReplyDeleteToday teens have it a lot easier than teens in ancient Rome. In ancient Rome teens had to deal with serious life or death situations and they had to proved for families; their spouses and children. Don't get me wrong in modern time some teens are put in life or death situations and some do have to provide for their families but these occurrences aren't true for most teens. Most teens have it easy and they do not have as many great struggles. In a teens free time they can watch T.V.or spend their time on the internet. Back in ancient Rome the teens did not have as many luxuries. The standard of living is a lot higher now than it was back then. In a way i feel like all this technology may be a set back to a teens brain or ability to think abstractly. Teens in ancient Rome learned to develop these skills greatly. On the other hand technology brought about a great amount of knowledge and teens nowadays know far more than teens in ancient Rome.
ReplyDeleteComparing todays teens to the teens of ancient Rome, it seems almost ridiculous as to how lucky teenagers are today. Back in Ancient Rome, they did not have any forms of technology and even the "games" that they played can lead to death. At a young age, people would marry and majority of the time the female would be a much younger spouse. The men would have to train and be soldiers, fight in wars and most of the time would have no say in whether they want to go or not. Teenagers studied hard in reading, writing, and philosophy and the females were not allowed to. Females were very restricted in alot of different areas in academics, sports and politics. In todays society, teenagers seem to have it all. They have an easy life where they get to make their own choices the majority of the time. We have technology that makes our lives easier and more fun. Our games to not include highly competitive sports that results in death. We can marry at an age above 18 and have multiple rights. Teen life today is so much easier compared to the life of a teen in Ancient Rome and too many teenagers do not see just how lucky they have it. From academics, sports, politics, civil rights, and equality, teenagers have been able to gain these rights through hardships, wars and rallies. Even though teens have it easy today, it took many tough and hard years to have it so.
ReplyDeleteThe teens of today have completely different lives than those of ancient Rome. In ancient Rome their responsibilities consisted of taking care of spouses, preparing for war, also mastering reading and writing in a second language. These are tasks that a teen of today is rarely if ever to encounter. The severity of these tasks are of no comparison to the present. Yes teenagers of today may not have it as difficult as the Romans but not because of these reasons. They have it easier because of the individual households they live in. Some teens can do nothing in life and just pass by with their parents lifting them the whole way, while others are put into their place by their parents and made sure they feel the standards of living that arguably was set by the Romans of educating one's self.
ReplyDeleteDuring Roman time, it seems that teens back then had no decision on what they want to do or be when they are growing up. It also looks like that teens had to quickly grow up and become adults at such a young age. However, now teenagers can decide what they want to do and who they want to become. We are not limited on time or on options of how we want to grow up to be. It is a lot easier now than what it use to be because do not have to follow the lives of their parents has the Romans did. If I was a teenage boy from Roman time, than I do not think that I would survive the trials to manhood like most roman children had to go through. I like how my life is right now because I can make my own decisions in life and not the life of my parents or my country.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how we all live in the same world but are taught different values and philosophies. Back in Roman time teenagers seemed to have grasp the entire idea of life before they even finished their education. At the age of 17 in moderate time a young man would still be in school and learning to become a man. It seemed as though they took advantage of every opportunity they were given. As for today nothing seems to be important to teenagers except sex and money.
ReplyDeleteEverything in today's society is much easier for us teenagers. Roman teenagers had to work as adults not because they wanted to, but because they had to. Nowadays, teenagers do what they want to do because they have more liberty. Some teenagers in present day complain that they have too much to do or they argue with their parents about having to do adult tasks when Romans did double their work. I believe today's society doesn't take all the opportunities they have. Romans would sure have liked a bit more freedom like we do. Being a teen in today's world can be tough, but it can't be compared to the Romans. They had to prove how strong they were or how long they were willing to do things when in today's world, most teens don't go through that. A reason I believe we have it easier is because their is more technology, which makes everyone's life easier, while the Romans had to do most of their tasks by hand.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teen today is much easier compare to the Ancient Rome teens but teens in Roman time were more responsible and conscious. Although, they did not have many options during their teenage but they took benefit of every opportunity they were given. While in these days life of most teens is all about going to school and playing video games. Back in those days kids were close to nature; for instance kids were climbing mountains at age 15. They were learning how to fight at age 17 which was required in that time. I think that teens today rely on digital entertainment like video games, mp3 music, and suffering on internet, which is not a good sign for their future. No doubt all these things make life easier but at the same time overuse of these things can ruin life of today’s teens. In this way I do not see any parallel between the world of today’s teenagers and teenagers of ancient Rome. Teenagers had to deal with more serious tasks during Roman time and teenagers of today are lucky that they do not have to go through dangerous tasks every day.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how teenagers in rome have completely different lifestyles and values than we do here. The teenagers in rome have more responsibility at a young age. They are expected to complete responsibiliteies that here we are not neccessarily required to do. Not only do they have a great amount of responsibilities, but they are expected to get everything done at a young age as well. Unlike todays teens which are more likely to be handling responsibilities such as just school or things that wouldnt cause much stress. Roman teenagers have to take on tasks that wouldnt even be expected of todays teens. If one of the responsibilities that are put on roman teenagers were put on one of todays teens, I dont think that one of todays teens would even be able to accomplish them. Or atleast not be able to as quickly or sufficiently because it would come off as absurd. Todays teens are able to encounter more things to entertain them than those in rome. Teens now have alot more freedom rather than responibilities. It is almsot as if todays teens are being introduced to more things to entertain them, where as a roman teen is being introduced to more responsibilities.
ReplyDeleteThis video of how the Ancient rome teanagers lived is very intersting because the teenagers back then were smater and brighter about the decions they would make and had alot of responsibilyt in thier hands. if you were fifteen back then and was still alive that meant you had survied to be an adult.And the teenagers now dont have that much of responsibilty in thier hands they bacically do whatever they want.Back then you were set to get married to who your father had arranged for you to marry a girl that was 10 years younger then you.Today teenagers dont get married till they are ready and who they want to get married with. And today all these teenagers do is just entertain themselfs with a bunch of technology and back then they were active and not just stuck at home they had to learn how to fight and be able to do all kinds of things by the age of 17. Teenagers today have it alot more easier then the Ancient rome teenagers did.
ReplyDeleteThere is a lot of differences between teenagers today and teenagers from Ancient Rome. Before, teenagers had so much responsibility and today, yes we do have a lot of responsibilities but they aren't as demanding as they were back then. There was a lot of arranged marriages back then, that aren't as common now. But the girls in Ancient Rome were quite a bit younger than their arranged husbands. Today, we are able to access tons of information through the internet, while teenagers before would have to put an immense effort into learning facts. Technology is making life a lot easier for us, and it is only going to get easier. Teenagers from Ancient Rome had an interesting life, it was hard but it was what they had to do then.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager today and in Ancient Rome is completely different. Being a teenager back then required much more than what is required from most teenagers today. A teenager back then was like being an adult nowadays. I mean there are a few exceptions of teenagers today that have to grow up really quickly and become very much like adults. But back then all teenagers were like adults, not only a few. By 17, they were about done with all their education, ready to get married, and thankful to have been alive for so long. I believe technology has also made life for us a bit easier. There are some similarities like in the fact that teenagers weren't really trusted with business just yet and the parents took care of things like that. To sum it all up, being a teenager then and now is completely different and I believe that we have it much easier than teenagers back then had it.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teen today compared to being a teen back then, now that i think of it, seems extremely easy. Back then teens had to care for not only their other spouses but they had to master things that most teens today wouldn't even waste their time doing. But is it actually a waste of time? I mean being bilingual today is pretty impressive but learning a language back in around 73 AD was nothing out of the ordinary. I feel that teens today are not only spoiled but most likely the most selfish generation the world has seen yet. Most of us are EXTREMELY materialistic and don't care much for other, though we often say "i love you" to anyone who walks buy or does something nice for us such as buying food. We live for the moment and don't take account into how that could effect our tomorrow. Teens back then had responsibilities that most of us don't encounter until or early to late 30's. Looking at today's divorce rates i would say that if times were still as they were in 73 AD then the divorce rate would be nonexistent due to the fact that nobody would want to get married. The suicide rate on the other hand would be high. In a way, you could say these two things go hand in hand. Since we have irresponsible teens today they would definitely do ANYTHING possible to escape being "tied down". And then there are the languages again. A teenager back then would be fluent in both Latin & Greek by the time their 18th birthday was rearing around the corner but today's teens are only fluent in what seems like sarcasm and English. Oh how far English has gotten our society! To wrap up today's teens have a much lower chance of being seen as an adult compared to teens back then for one main reason, they don't accept responsibility. Oh what a world..
ReplyDeleteBeing a teen in today's society is complicated than 10, 20, 30 years ago especially in ancient Rome. Nowadays teenagers are sucked into the median electronics and what is hip and not. The problem with this would be the fact most of our children of this age are becoming less social and verbally incline. Take away any child or teens (especially teen) cell phone and computer or laptop. Observe their reaction. It seems they would go far enough to steal a cell phone or release their rage towards you. You must agree that is very unhealthy? Is it their fault? Yes and no, it is both the parents responsibility to assist the teenagers life. Not taking away but simply reduce the amount of time spent on electronics. With that being said, I could go on and on blabbing about what is best how to handle a teenager. Best you could do is just hope and try your best that the 18th birthday comes around soon!
ReplyDeleteI think that being a teen today is a little easier than how it was in ancient Rome. Many teenagers have more freedom to choose who they want to marry and to do activities that they love. Also, many teenagers celebrate their birthdays to have a party or get gifts in comparison to the Romans who celebrated their birthdays because they were able to outlive others. The difficulties that many teenagers face today are saying no to peer pressure from their friends and to find their own sense of self. There are some parallels between ancient Roman teenagers and the teenagers of today. At the age of 17, many are graduating from high school and the things we do not learn in school we learn from our family or friends. There is also the opportunity to join the army at the age of 18, except that joining the army is more of a choice instead of an obligations like many young Roman teens.
ReplyDeleteAcne is rough. It can hurt worse than a bee sting and lower confidence around romantic interests. Thanks to revolutionary products like Clearasil and Oxy Pads, though, Teens of today have it much easier than Teenagers of Ancient Rome did.
ReplyDeleteIn Ancient Rome, not only did post-pubescent adolescents have to deal with Acne, they had to do so while learning how to fight lions, fight their friends, or fight their parents, for real. Imagine having that aching puss-packet distracting your efforts during gladiator prep, or having to duck around your chariot when Portia wasn't looking just to pop a zit with a flaming piece of battle steel. Bringing pimple fluid to a head with tweezers or a hot towel is much easier, but Roman Teens did not have these luxuries.
In all truthfulness, though, we must respect that Teenagers today do have real problems to deal with. Bullying, Domestic Abuse, Foster Care, and Arranged Marriages are very serious issues discussed not enough. They can each lead to depression, poor self-image, or, even worse, suicide. It's important to pick up the spirit of someone who is down. If you see someone walking by who likes like they are going through a hard day, or difficult period, share a smile or a 'hello, how are you?' even if you have never met them before. Everyone benefits from the passing-on of a good feeling, and we can sometimes use them most in our Teenage years of today.
Seems like being a male teenager was tougher with all the war(s) going on because they died. Other marrying a girl half their age, what about them too? Wasn't being a teenager difficult for a girl as well? Teenagers now face other social problems today that I won't list.
ReplyDeleteIn 2017 it is very common to live past 15. Compared to living in AD 73, living in modern days is way easier. Back then there was a lot more responsibility with being 17 compared to how 17 year olds are treated now. Responsibilities like learning to read and write in two languages and even getting married. Teenagers now only learn a second language when they're forced to learn spanish in high school and rarely ever get married at that age. Back then even the younger kids were allowed to drink alcohol (wine) but not today. Im sure if teenagers during the roman times were able to live in our generation today they would feel luxurious and carefree.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager is like straddling between the easiest time of your life and the worst time of your life. Everything in life is changing, from your mental health, physical health and even relationships are changing. We are in the time of our lives where we have to make important decisions that can ultimately change your entire life.
ReplyDeleteAncient Rome has a completely different lifestyle than it is today. We aren’t arranged to be married to anyone, now a days people are marrying later in life. Being 15 is not a big deal today, we’re not even considered as an adult. Also, we’re not forced to be in the frontlines of war, unlike what Lucius had to do.
Even though there are some major differences between the lifestyles of teens in Ancient Rome and teens today, there are some similarities. We have great expectations to meet from our parents and peers. We have to be independent, but our parents still take care of us. We also have other responsibilities that we need to take care of, that no one else is going to do.
I feel like being a teen was hard in ancient Rome primarily because of how they were basically thought of as adults. Young boys would be sent to war and girls would be married at young ages.
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