Imagine it’s dinner time, and you’re feeling hungry but don’t want to cook. Today, you might think about going to a fast-food place like McDonald’s or Chipotle. But what if you lived in ancient Rome in the year 79 A.D.? Let’s explore what fast food was like back then!
The Roman Empire was huge, with over 70 million people living in areas that are now countries like England, Morocco, and Iraq. Feeding everyone in such a large empire was a big challenge. The Roman Emperor Augustus made sure there was enough food for everyone because he didn’t want people to go hungry and possibly rebel, like they did during the time of Julius Caesar.
In ancient Rome, many people didn’t have ovens at home, so they often went out to eat. This was more common than it is today! Romans imported many different foods from across their empire, like honey from Greece, oil from Spain, wine from France, and a popular fish sauce called garum. Garum was a salty sauce used in many dishes and was important to the economy of cities like Pompeii.
So, what did fast food look like in ancient Rome? There were two main types of places where people could grab a quick meal.
The first type was called a taberna. It was like a small stall where you could buy food over the counter, similar to a drive-through today but without any seating. At a taberna, you could get things like wine, hot bread, or fried fish. While the wealthy could afford fancy meats, common people often ate at places called thermopolia, which served leftovers and simple foods, usually in a sandwich.
The second type was the popina, a very affordable wine bar where lower-class Romans, including slaves and foreigners, would eat. They served simple foods like olives, bread, and stews, along with wine. Popinae were often located near other businesses, so after eating, people could enjoy activities like gambling.
The richest Romans enjoyed exotic meals, dining on foods like flamingo, sparrow, peacock tongues, and roasted dormice. Interestingly, Roman emperors loved vegetables too! Emperor Tiberius was fond of cucumbers, and Augustus Caesar’s favorite food was asparagus. Despite their wealth, even emperors sometimes enjoyed a meal from a thermopolium.
We know about these ancient Roman eating habits partly because of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which preserved many details under ash. It’s fascinating to see how ancient Romans enjoyed their food in ways similar to us today—quick, easy, and convenient. History is not just about dates or ruins; it’s about real people who lived and ate just like we do.
Next time you’re enjoying a meal at your favorite fast-food place, think about the ancient Romans who might have been doing something similar with their fish sauce sandwiches. It’s amazing to realize how much we have in common with people from the past!
Imagine you are a chef in ancient Rome. Design a menu for a taberna or popina. Include at least three dishes and describe them using what you’ve learned about Roman fast food. Think about the ingredients available at the time and how they might have been prepared. Share your menu with the class and explain why you chose each dish.
Work in small groups to create a short skit set in a Roman taberna or popina. Assign roles such as customers, a cook, and a server. Act out a typical scene, including ordering food and discussing the day’s events. This will help you understand the social aspect of dining in ancient Rome.
Make a chart comparing ancient Roman fast food with modern fast food. Include categories like types of food, ingredients, and dining experience. Use this chart to discuss with your classmates how food and dining have changed over time and what has remained similar.
Research the ingredients and preparation of garum, the popular Roman fish sauce. Then, create a modern version using available ingredients. Taste your creation with bread or vegetables, and write a short reflection on how this experience connects you to ancient Roman culture.
Using a map of the Roman Empire, identify and label the regions where different foods mentioned in the article came from, such as honey from Greece and oil from Spain. This will help you visualize the vastness of the Roman Empire and understand the trade routes that brought diverse foods to Roman tables.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
—
Dinner time! I’m hungry, and I don’t feel like cooking. I have some spending money, so let’s grab some fast food—maybe Carl’s Jr., Chipotle, or how about McDonald’s? Oh wait, we can’t because it’s 79 A.D. and we live in the Roman Empire, so I guess I can’t go out and pick up a burrito today.
On Nutty History, we’re exploring what fast food was like in ancient Rome.
The Roman Empire, at its height, ruled over more than 70 million people and covered lands as far as what is now England in the north, reaching all the way down to Morocco in the south and across to Iraq in the east. Feeding everyone in such a vast empire was not an easy task. The Roman Emperor Augustus prioritized importing enough food to keep his people fed, probably because he was concerned that if there was a famine, they might rebel—after what happened to his predecessor, Julius Caesar.
As it turns out, the city-dwelling Roman commoner went out to eat even more than the average person today. Most Roman commoners did not own an oven, so eating out was the only way to get something nice and hot.
Many different products were imported to Roman cities from across the empire: honey from Greece, oil from Spain, wine from France, and a super popular fish sauce called garum from various sources. Garum was a salty sauce used in many dishes, and its production was vital to the economy of Pompeii. Interestingly, it is because of this particular fish sauce that we can confirm the date of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. It was recorded that Vesuvius erupted in August of 79 A.D. by those who witnessed it, and an exploding volcano is hard to miss. Analysis of the remains of garum sauce found in Pompeii, buried under ash, reveals it was made from a type of fish that congregates only in the summer months, confirming the date in ancient Roman accounts.
Congratulations to the fish sauce makers; your noble profession still contributes to our understanding of history!
So, what did a fast food restaurant in ancient Rome look like? They had a couple of types. The first was called a taberna, a small stall where you’d buy food over the counter—basically a drive-through with no customer seating. Here, you could grab some wine, hot bread, or fried fish. The wealthy could afford choice meats, but commoners often ate at what was called a thermopolium, which served leftovers, intestines, and offcuts, usually in a sandwich.
The second type of Roman fast food was the popina, a super cheap wine bar frequented by the lower classes of Roman society, including slaves and foreigners. They served simple foods like olives, bread, and stews, plus, of course, wine. Popinae were generally built near or within other businesses, so after grabbing a bite, you could indulge in some gambling or other activities.
The richest Romans enjoyed exotic meals, dining on things like flamingo, sparrow, peacock tongues, and roasted dormice. Interestingly, Roman emperors were known for their love of vegetables; Emperor Tiberius loved cucumbers, while Augustus Caesar’s favorite food was asparagus. Despite this decadence, some records suggest that even emperors sometimes enjoyed a bite to eat from the thermopolium.
Though we only know about it because of a catastrophic volcanic eruption, the fact that the ancient Romans enjoyed their food in many of the same ways we do today—cheap, fast, and conveniently located—provides a living link to the past. It’s important to remember that history isn’t just dates in a book or decaying ruins; it’s about real people who lived, laughed, and ate just as we do.
So the next time you’re at Chipotle, paying extra for your guacamole, think of that ancient Roman citizen paying extra for fish sauce on his sandwich, and consider how you might have more in common with him than differences.
What are you hungry for? Let us know in the comments where you’d be eating in ancient Rome and what other fast food from ancient civilizations you want to hear about next. Thanks for watching Nutty History!
—
This version removes informal language and any potentially inappropriate references while maintaining the overall content and context.
Rome – The capital city of the Roman Empire, known for its powerful influence on the ancient world. – Rome was the center of politics and culture in the ancient world.
Fast Food – Quickly prepared food that was popular in ancient Rome, often sold in small shops. – In ancient Rome, people would often grab fast food from street vendors on their way to the market.
Taberna – A shop or tavern in ancient Rome where goods were sold or meals were served. – The taberna was a bustling place where Romans could buy bread and other daily necessities.
Popina – A type of Roman eatery where people could enjoy food and drink, similar to a modern-day restaurant. – Many Romans would gather at the popina to eat and socialize after a long day.
Emperor – The ruler of an empire, especially the Roman Empire, who had great power and authority. – Julius Caesar was one of the most famous emperors in Roman history.
Garum – A popular fish sauce used in ancient Roman cooking to add flavor to dishes. – Romans loved to use garum to enhance the taste of their meals.
Economy – The system of trade and industry by which wealth is made and used in a country or region. – The Roman economy was based on agriculture, trade, and the use of currency.
People – The citizens or inhabitants of a particular place, especially in historical contexts. – The people of ancient Rome enjoyed public events like gladiator games and chariot races.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about the history of ancient civilizations helps us understand how the world has changed over time.
Ancient – Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence. – The ancient ruins of Rome attract tourists from all over the world.
