Daily life · Roman Empire Daily
Most people in Rome rented apartments in multi-story blocks called insulae, and overcrowding made fire and collapse real dangers.
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Ordinary Romans lived in insulae, tall buildings with shops below and cramped flats above. Upper floors were cheaper and riskier. Concerns about shoddy construction led emperors to set height limits on new buildings.
Source: Strabo, 'Geography,' 5.3.7; building-height limits in Augustan and later regulations.
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