Source A: Description of Roman Baths

"The baths of Rome were grand and bustling places where people from all walks of life gathered to bathe, socialize, and relax. They consisted of various rooms, including the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm room), and frigidarium (cold bath). Visitors would move through these rooms, enjoying massages and exercising in the palestra. The baths were not only places for hygiene but also important social centers that reinforced community bonds. Rich Romans had private baths in their homes, but the public baths were accessible to everyone, promoting equality in leisure and cleanliness. The baths often featured elaborate architecture, mosaics, and statues, demonstrating Roman engineering skills and their value placed on leisure and wellness."* Provenance: Pliny the Elder, AD 77-79, Roman author and naturalist