The Roman Family
- Families were dominated by men. The head of the Roman family was the oldest living male, called “paterfamilias” or “father of the family”. This man looked after the family’s business affairs and property and could preform religious rites on behalf of the entire family.
- The paterfamilias had absolute power over his household. If anyone pissed off the paterfamilias he could legally disown them, sell them into slavery or kill them.
- Sons were extremely important because it was up to the sons to continue the family name. A father without sons would likely adopt one to make sure the family name perpetuated.
- Women usually married in their early teenage years, men in their mid-twenties.
- Materfamilias exerted power behind the scenes and managed the household. An upperclass materfamilias was expected to help her husband’s career by exuding modesty, grace and dignity.
- Women only had so much influence though. Paterfamilias decided what happened to newborn babies. After birth, the midwife placed babies on the ground: only if the paterfamilias picked it up was the baby formally accepted into the family. If the baby was not picked up, then it was abandoned outside. Exposed babies were left in specific places so that they could be picked up and used as slaves.
- About 25% of infants died in their first year of life. About half of all children died before the age of ten. Because of the high mortality rate, women who successfully gave birth were rewarded. After three live babies, women were recognized as legally independent.