The ancient middle classes: urban life and aesthetics in the Roman Empire, 100 BCE - 250 CE

Intro -- Contents -- 1. Class, Stratification, and Culture: The Roman Middle Classes and Their Place in History -- 2. In Search of Ancient Middle Classes: An Archaeology of Middle Classes in Urban Life, 100 B.C.E. - 250 C.E. -- 3. From Commercial to Middle Classes: Urban Life and Economy in the Roman Empire -- 4. In Search of Middle-Class Culture: Commemorating Working and Private Lives -- 5. Decor and Lifestyle: The Aesthetics of Standardization -- 6. Conclusions -- Notes -- Index.

Main description: Our image of the Roman world is shaped by the writings of upper-class intellectuals. Yet most of the material evidence we have—art, architecture, household artifacts—belonged to artisans, merchants, and professionals. Roman culture as we have seen it with our own eyes is distinctly middle-class and requires a radically new framework of analysis.