The Family in Ancient Rome: New Perspectives / Edition 1

by Beryl Rawson

Overview

Little has been published on the Roman family, a subject of central importance to political as well as social history. It was the family that determined political power; it was within the family that the distinctive relationships of one citizen to another were forged and exemplified. The Family in Ancient Rome provides an overview of the state of research by presenting some of the most important work being done in this area.

In addition to a survey of the literature on all aspects of the Roman family, the book begins with a general picture of the main features of the family. More specialized essays deal with the legal evidence, wills and property rights which were of particular importance for the position of women; with the link between property disposition, dowry, and divorce; with the authority of the male head of the household and its relation to political power; with the status of children born of unions between slaves and citizen; and with the rearing of, and attitudes toward, children.

Contributors: Edyth Binkowski; Ian Blayney; Keith R. Bradley; J. A. Crook; Suzanne Dixon; W. K. Lacey; Beryl Rawson; P. R. C. Weaver

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801494604
Publisher:	Cornell University Press
Publication date:	07/06/1987
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	280
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.81(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

Table of Contents

List of Tables
ContributorsIntroduction1. The Roman Family
by Beryl Rawson2. Women in Roman Succession
by J. A. Crook3. Feminine Inadequacy and the Senatusconsultum Velleianum
by J. A. Crook4. Family Finances: Terentia and Tullia
by Suzanne Dixon5. Patria Potestas
by W. K. Lacey6. The Status of Children in Mixed Marriages
by P. R. C. Weaver7. Children in the Roman Familia
by Beryl Rawson8. Wet-nursing at Rome: A Study in Social Relations
by Keith R. Bradley9. Theories of Conception in the Ancient Roman World
by Ian Blayney10. ConclusionBibliography(I) Sources for the study of the Roman Family
by Edyth Binkowski and Beryl Rawson(II) List of referencesIndex

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Few studies before have covered such a wide range of topics in Roman family history—from wet nurses to Vestal Virgins, from foster-children to the property rights of women.... The most interesting and useful contributions are those concerned with legal status within the Roman family and particularly with the rights of women.

Editorial Reviews

"Few studies before have covered such a wide range of topics in Roman family history—from wet nurses to Vestal Virgins, from foster-children to the property rights of women. . . . The most interesting and useful contributions are those concerned with legal status within the Roman family and particularly with the rights of women."—Times Literary Supplement

"This book is a major contribution to both the field of women's studies and the social history of the ancient world."—Choice

From the Publisher