Question

What was the purpose of the Roman concept of "insulae" in urban planning?

• A. Agricultural estates
• B. Residential apartment buildings
• C. Temples and religious sites
• D. Marketplaces and commercial centres

Hint:

\textbf{Insula (plural: insulae):} In ancient Rome, a multi-story apartment block or tenement building.
Housed the majority of the urban population (commoners).
Often poorly constructed and crowded.
Ground floors frequently contained shops (tabernae).
Contrasted with the \textit{domus}, the single-family townhouse of the wealthy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

In ancient Roman urban planning, an insula (plural: \textit{insulae}) was a type of apartment building or tenement block that housed the majority of the urban population in Roman cities, particularly Rome itself. Characteristics of insulae:
Multi-story residential buildings: They were typically several stories high (often 3 to 5 stories, sometimes more, though height restrictions were later imposed due to risk of collapse and fire).
Housing for the urban masses: They provided accommodation for the common people (plebeians) and lower to middle classes. Wealthier Romans typically lived in \textit{domus} (single-family houses).
Construction: Often built with timber frames and mud-brick or poor-quality concrete, making them prone to fire and collapse. Ground floors might have shops or workshops (\textit{tabernae}) opening onto the street, with apartments above.
High density living: Insulae contributed to the high population density of Roman cities. Living conditions were often cramped and unsanitary. Let's evaluate the options:
(a) Agricultural estates: These were large landholdings in the countryside (villas or latifundia), not urban insulae.
(b) Residential apartment buildings: This accurately describes the primary purpose and nature of insulae – they were multi-story apartment blocks for housing the urban population.
(c) Temples and religious sites: Temples and other religious structures were distinct public buildings.
(d) Marketplaces and commercial centres: While ground floors of insulae often had shops, the insula itself was primarily a residential structure. Marketplaces (fora, macella) and larger commercial centers were specific public areas. Therefore, the purpose of insulae in Roman urban planning was to provide residential apartment buildings for the general populace. \[ \boxed{\text{Residential apartment buildings}} \]