Life in Roman Empire

At its peak, the population of the city of Rome probably exceeded one million. However, the Roman Empire was an agricultural society where most people made a living from farming (although there were many artisans). Only a small minority of the population lived in cities. There were basically two types of people: citizens and non-citizens. Roman citizens had certain privileges. In 212 AD all free people in the Roman Empire became citizens (Edict of Caracalla).