RHILA #8

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Family Life and Education of the Romans

Family:
* Family was dominated by the man (paterfamilias)
*Took care of family's business affairs, property, and could perform religious rites on their behalf.
*Father had legal right to disown, sell, or kill his children
*Father's owned all property. Even if a son would work, his earnings belonged to his father
*Materfamilias (charge of Households)
* Upper class- Assist husband career
* When a woman gave birth the baby was placed on the floor. If picked up it was accepted into the family. If not it was abandoned.

Education:
* School was mainly for boys
*Lessons were learned by heart ( beating if they doubted)
*Lessons were dictated (no books or too expensive)
* Kids learned to read and write and to do basic mathematics (ages 11-12)
* Specific studies on topics such as public speaking (older kids)
*Girls from rich families did receive an education, but this was done at home. *Girls were taught how to run a good household and how to be a good wife in general - in preparation for the time they got married. Part of their education would have been music, sewing and the competent running of a kitchen.

- Reminds me of how men in history have controlled families. Women have barely had any rights.

http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/family.html
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_education.htm

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