Children Within the Public Domain Flashcards
What are children considered within ancient Greece and Rome in the context of their public roles?
Children are citizens in training as some children were not enrolled as citizens as they were too young. Thus, they had no role to play as a citizen because they don’t financially contribute to the house in some countries. They existed entirely in the private and familial sphere
Did children have public protection like we do in the contemporary western world?
Children had little rights and protection in the public sphere. No child labour laws or any laws available singled out children as a specific audience or group needing special legal protection.
If laws were implemented to protect children, what was their intent?
Whats an example(s)?
These laws usually existed to protect the future citizen the child will become rather than the child themselves. In other words, these laws were to protect the state rather than the children’s wellbeing.
For example, Laws did exist to protect children from sex trafficking. However these laws were implemented to protect the son from being sexually trafficked. If a male child was prostituted, they would no longer be considered a citizen and thus, cannot contribute in political speech or politics in general. Thus they cannot contribute to society.
Another example is Demosthenes 59.18-19 (Johnson, 61) which records a mother sold a girl to prostitution, and it was condemned not to protect the child but to protect society. In order words, kids were viewed as citizens in training
What was the symbolic role of the child in ancient Rome
Emperor Augustus directly attributes prosperity and peace to having a lot of kids. Thus, his reign discouraged bachelorship.
How were children involved in politics?
Imperial children were promoted in the imperial court. For example, the Grandchildren of the emperor Augustus were promoted to Roman society as future rulers. This was to promote his continuation of the throne and continue his propaganda values
How were children involved in the public domain and consciousness?
Children of the middle and lower class were very much prevalent in the public domain during ancient times through the medium of labour. Through this, they would engage in formal and informal labour. As a result of this, children were not just hidden in the domestic domain but were seen all throughout the public and acknowledged
What age did children have value in slavery?
If a slave child is under 5, they have no value in work (law). The child’s value is determined AFTER age 5. If a child slave is 10 or under they are worth less (10 coins). If a child over 10 is sold, they are worth more (20 coins). Children with experience in crafting or other work are worth more as they can contribute more (30 coins)
How did children become slaves?
If they were conquered, families were sold into slavery, including children.
Children being kidnapped and sold into slavery or became slaves
Abandoned children would be sold into slavery or taken as a slave (foundlings or children left behind)
Being born into slavery, Oikogensis (Greek term), Slave born in masters household
What was the perspective of slave breeding within ancient Greece and Rome?
In Greece, Slaves being bred was more on accident and there’s no evidence that it was encouraged.
However in Rome, Vernae (Roman term for a slave being born in a mastershouse hold), was heavily encouraged as an economic investment. This was accomplished in two ways: the masters family breeding with the slaves or a slave master rewarding a male slave with a female slave. Therefore, they were allowed to have families
What does the Theodosian Code say about children’s marginalization?
This leglisation was put in place so that slave children and families would not be separated from their families. This implies that slave owners would sell slave children to other masters. This makes marginalizes the childs and the childs families emotional attachment .
What was the relationship like between a slave master and slave children born within the house?
What is a child pet?
Human emotions may have transcended status as masters may have gotten attached to the child slave as humans do with children.
While child pets can refer to pederasty, it can also refer to the emotions and attachment a master felt towards his Vernae. In ancient Rome, pet was not used to dehumanize. Instead, It meant a source of delight whether it can be pederasty or just children providing joy and fun as children do to adults who look after them
How else were children involved in the public consciousness?
Children were very much apart of society as citizens in training.
While they have the legal rights that a citizen do, it was important to have children learn from work and the public sphere to contribute to society when they are citizens.
Moreover, children were visible in the public space. They were wondering the streets, performing work at home or apprenticeships. Regardless of whether they were freeborn or slavery, they were important to an ancient society, and the public did interact with them as they were everywhere.
