I have been reading and re-reading James S. Jeffers’ book The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era: Exploring the Background of Early Christianity. It is an informative and thoroughly enjoyable book — I highly recommend it. In his chapter on “Life and Death in the First Century” he recommends the following books for further reading:
Labor and the Economy
- The Social Context of Paul’s Ministry: Tentmaking and Apostleship, by Ronald F. Hock
Leisure and Games
- Cruelty and Civilization: The Roman Games, by Roland Auguet
Travel
- Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World, by Lionel Casson
- Travel in the Ancient World, by Lionel Casson
- The Book of Acts in Its Graeco-Roman Setting, edited by David W. J. gill and Conrad Gempf
- The Cities of St. Paul: Their Influece on His Life and Thought, by William Ramsay
Dining
- Roman Cookery, by John Edwards
- Rome: Its People, Life and Customs, by Ugo Enrico Paoli