2. We Are Family! The Roman family or familiaincluded more than the parents and their children. It also included the slaves, freedmen and other clients who were under the control of the paterfamilias.
3. Pater Familias: Father of the Family Legally responsible for every member of the family. Owned all of the property, made the decisions about the family, and acted as the family priest and judge. Could deny a child was his by refusing to acknowledge it. Could decide to punish, adopt, sell or kill a member of the family. Retained his power until his death. http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/16600/16676/romantogas_16676.htm
4. Mater Familias: Mother of the Family The wife of a paterfamilias. Was responsible for all matters concerning the running of the house. Had few rights. Remained under the rule of their father or husband. Her family provided a dowry upon marriage. If they divorced, the dowry was returned. If she failed to produce an heir, she could be divorced. If divorced, the children remained with their father.
5. Roman Slaves Were from any conquered land. Thus, any ethnic group could be a slave. Could be married, although the marriage was not legally recognized and any children were still the property of the master. Could be freed upon the death of their master. Might receive their freedom as a gift for exceptional service. Could buy their freedom from a small amount of money they earned from working.
6. Freedmen Once a slave was freed, he (or she) became a freedman. The freedman was still part of the familia and as such under the control of the paterfamilias. Freedmen became clients of their masters. Clients relied on their patrons for advice about politics, careers and finances. Patrons relied on clients for political and moral support. The larger a man’s family, including the clients, the larger his status.
7. Children A child was named about 8 days after it was born. The father acknowledged his paternity by picking up the child. If the father did not pick up the child, then he had no legal obligation to it. The child was often left to die. Also at the naming ceremony, a child was given a bulla, or good luck charm. The bulla was made of leather, wood, or metal and was filled with items to bring luck and ward off evil sprits. Pic source: http://lavecchiacredenza.wordpress.com/
8. Education The wealthy had nurses to see to a child’s upbringing Later a male slave called a paedogogus would accompany boys to school and teach them manners. The richest families hired a private tutor, a rhetor to teach public speaking, or even send them to study in Greece. Girls were usually taught domestic chores at home.
