Poverty and Destitution in Ancient Rome

Poverty was a widespread and unrelenting issue in ancient Rome. The majority, including plebeians, slaves, and freedmen, lived in squalid conditions in overcrowded and unsafe apartment buildings. Their low-paying jobs barely met basic needs. The deep economic divide between the elite and the majority highlighted the stark social inequalities of the Roman Empire, underscoring the perennial challenge of bridging wealth gaps in societies.