Source: Twitter/gandalf_u / Twitter/gandalf_u
Being poor in Ancient Rome meant you would live in a high rise
Life in Rome was mainly filled with those on the poorer end of the scale. Of course, being a part of the first city with over 1 million people meant they all needed somewhere to live. The solution? High rises. The apartment buildings were called insula - which means “island” - and stood up to 100 feet tall.
They were packed in together, with the worst apartments being on the top floors. That’s because they were cramped, dark, and meant someone would likely pass away in a fire. Instead, the bottom floors were reserved for those with more money. Still, many rented rooms to several roommates, with no apartment coming with running water or insulation.
