Roman Home and Family Flashcards
What is a gender role?
a culturally and socially determined set of expected behaviours, attitudes, and characteristics based on concepts of masculinity and femininity
What is the paterfamilias?
the oldest living male in a roman family and the head of a family
Who would the paterfamilias be the head of?
the extensive household, meaning the family but also slaves within the household.
What power did the paterfamilias have?
legal power over his entire household in early Roman times, this included the power of life and death.
What was the Latin word for the absolute power paterfamilias’ had?
Patria Patestas
What was the Paterfamilias responsible for?
-the welfare of the family
-education of children
-finding suitable marriages for his daughters
-purchase of slaves
-family worship and religious rights
What name were roman girls given?
the feminine name of their father
What were women expected to do in Rome?
spin wool and be loyal and hardworking at home
How young were girls betrothed?
10 years old
What were women expected to wear in public once they got engaged?
all the gifts their fiancé has sent them
What type of Paterfamilias’ were patrons ?
wealthy ones
What were the two classes in roman society
Patrician and Plebian
What was a Patrician and Plebian in the patron client system
the patrician was the patron
the plebian was the client
Why did clients need a patron?
Poorer Romans in need of money would attach them selves as clients to a wealthy man, the patron
What were clients expected to do?
Clients were expected to appear at their patron’s house at dawn every morning-called morning salutatio-; later, they might be required to accompany him to the forum or to the baths.
