roman women in the home Flashcards
(19 cards)
what was a matrona?
a married roman woman
if a matrona was married to the paterfamilias what did they become?
they became the paterfamilias
what was the expectation for a matrona?
- to bear children
- rear in their children
- oversee day to day running of the household
when did the women tend to pass away and why?
in their teens/early twenties due to childbirth or shortly after by infection
what freedoms did a married woman have?
they weren’t restricted from leaving the home
- they could attend the dinner parties they organised
- when the paterfamilias wasn’t around they could manage public affairs
what couldn’t they do?
sell propertey, make a will, sign contracts or free a slave
what happens to the woman in the case of a divorce?
they return to their original paterfamilias
what happens to the children?
the man keeps them
what would happen if the divorce was initiated by the man?
the wife could get her dowry back
what would happen if the divorce was initiated by the woman?
the man would get a portion of the dowry per child and more if the wife had been adulterous
what was common grounds for divorce?
infertility
why did most roman women stay in unhappy marriages?
for their children
what proportion of rome was enslaved?
1/3
what were 6 ways a person could get enslvaed?
- kidnapped by pirates
- in dept
- born into it
- convicted criminal
- captive of war
- sold into it
what kind of education did an enslaved child receive?
- basic arithmetic
- reading
- writing
from most important to least was was the hierarchy of enslaved women?
vilica, woolworker, hairdresser, cook/cleaner
what was the most respected enslaved woman wand what were her children?
vilica - management of household
what was contubernium?
partnerships between slaves instead of marraige
what would enslaved men usually do after he was freed?
purchase freedom of partner
