far-flung concerns of the Empire. This benefitted merchants, who could transport their goods more quickly and efficiently. Traveling by Roman roads was also much safer. Bandits were deterred by the presence of Roman soldiers.

At the same time, one must also recognize that many of the Romans's subject peoples deeply resented being part of a foreign empire. Not unreasonably, they wanted control over their own lives, to run their own affairs. Even if the Empire as a whole was relatively prosperous and stable during the Pax Romana, that couldn't take away the fact that it was still an empire. It was something that had been won by conquest and imposed on subject peoples. Under such conditions, it's not surprising that many of the Romans's subjects felt nothing but resentment towards their imperial masters.

When Apuleius wrote The Golden Ass in the late 2nd Century CE, the Roman Empire was going through a golden age. What someone's life would have been like then would depend on a number of things. It would differ depending on their gender, citizenship status, and social class. Therefore, to answer your question, I will write in mostly general terms.

The Roman Empire at this time was truly a diverse and cosmopolitan place. The Empire was attracting many non-Roman immigrants. They were often eager to adopt Roman customs and culture. At the same time, they brought with them a large degree of diversity that left an indelible mark on Roman society. In the Roman world, you'd hear Latin, Greek, and dozens of other languages spoken side by side. You'd see people wearing classic Roman clothing such as tunics and togas as well as foreigners in their own regional garb. People worshipped the Roman gods in addition to many others from around the Empire. This comes to play in The Golden Ass when Lucius converts to the cult of Isis, an Egyptian deity.

Overall, this was a prosperous time for Rome. Having secured most of the known world, the Romans had access to ample food sources and trade was lively. While there were still skirmishes and battles with barbarians and Parthians at the borders, Rome did not face the same violent threats that it had during previous generations. Dangers still existed to be sure. Piracy at sea and banditry on the roads still threatened travelers. In fact, Lucius spends quite some time in the company of bandits. Furthermore, despite the overall wealth of Rome, poverty—particularly in cities—was high.

Throughout the Roman Empire, there were many common conveniences. Public baths, indoor plumbing, sanitation services, well-maintained roads, theaters, and sporting arenas could be found in almost all regions under Roman dominion.

Family life was very patriarchal. The oldest male had complete control over family matters. He could choose who his female relatives married and even had the authority to kill his wife and children in certain circumstances. A Roman wife, although expected to be obedient to her husband, was the manager of household matters.