This paper attempts to answer the question of what life was really like in ancient Rome, with a view to using this kind of information as cultural background for teaching Latin language and literature. There were many problems associated with daily living in ancient Rome. Writings of some inhabitants of ancient Rome attest to the fact that these problems were very similar to those of most large cities today: overcrowding; poor urban planning; unemployment; housing shortage; traffic problems; noise and air pollution; sewage problems and danger from fire, flood, and falling buildings. Solutions to these problems and the resulting frustration of living in Rome included moving to the suburbs for the wealthy, welfare for the poor, and attempts at urban planning and decentralization by the government. (AM)