Paterfamilias

cuckoo DeSantis Western Civilization 3/4/13 The papist Family Familia, the Latin word for family. This word played a precise large component bulge in that of that popish society. The Roman family is essentially the basic component of Roman society and could in either case be the archetype of political authority. Without a unwavering connection and bond in your Familia your family name could non be heeded. Everyone in the family had to play his or her own part and had a specific part or purpose to fulfill in order to be a successful family.Whether you were the head of the family, a wife, or a daughter or tidings, everyone had their own role and duties to execute. There was a very specific pecking order and structure in which the Roman family was set up. It started with the oldest living male and caulescent down to the children. At the top of the social hierarchy was the oldest living male, ordinarily the father, known as the patriarch. This patriarch had supreme pow er within the family, not whole in terms of respect but similarly de jure and politically. He held the right to sell family members if he deemed necessary (although rare).Regardless of age, a tidings was always legally subject to obeying any living patriarch and was also in charge of fulfilling said duties if the current Paterfamilias passed out (eldest son would become the paterfamilias). Although their legal capabilities allowed them to kill a child, wife or any member of the family, most fathers only used this ability as more of a threat than an action. The idea of a strong family bond turn out to be valid throughout most familial in that the Paterfamilias for the most part was an affectionate, caring, and kind father.The respect for the Paterfamilias came from the idea of respect for their elders and ancestors. Every patrician belonged to gen, which was essentially a group that lineage substantiate to common ancestor. With that being said all patricians were required to include their tierce name which indicated their gens. All Roman males had a person and a family name, til now only the elite and well off would have a marrow name. This basically set them apart from everyone else and would indicate their wealth. Similar to most societies of their the snip the Roman womanhood never became independent from their familias.For the most part woman would be considered more of an object than a member of a family. kind of of receiving a personal name like men, a daughter would be referred to by her fathers gens. The paterfamilias was only responsible for the first-born daughter in the family. He would be responsible for his wife, son, and daughter yet if second daughter were to be born he could legally renounce her and let her die. Although for the most part abandoned daughters would survive and be raised as knuckle downs.not only did the paterfamilias have the ability sell his daughter to slavery, kill her either by abandoning her or by actually se ntencing her to death as punishment, but he also reserved the right to marry her off to whomever he pleased. Although it seems that the paterfamilias would not really treat his daughters with respect, for the most part fathers still love and cared for their daughters. Once married off to other familias, the wives would commonly be among the ride out of the family during meals. Unlike classical Greece, woman had much more influence piece of tail the scenes.Husbands would often look to their wives for advice on certain issues being that wives were taught to take an wager in their husbands lives outside the realm of the household. Divorce was very common among Romans throughout the existence of the empire. Without question if a divorce were to authorise the father would retain custody of the children. An article titled Roman Family building quoted that, In later historic period, women had the choice of retaining loyalty to their birth family or their husbands family. They also ha d expanded rights to seek divorce themselves but, the children still remained with the fathers family. In later years is in reference to the fact that womens status underwent changes throughout the Roman empires period of domination (750 BC to 480 AD). The son was given the responsibility of obligateing on the family name by marrying a woman (most likely in the equivalent social class) and reproducing an heir. A son was also given the responsibility of carry out any and all tasks his paterfamilias asks of him. If the paterfamilias were to pass away (usually around ages 30-40) the eldest son would take on the responsibilities of the head of the family.This would only take place if he were the eldest male member of the family. Not only did blood relatives take part in the familia. Almost every Roman household contained a large family but also at least one slave. Whether you were a patrician or a plebian it was seen as a necessity to own a slave. Most slaves would be in charge of tak ing care of household tasks. Such as cooking, cleanup spot as well as gardening. If intelligent enough and actually literate person (not common) slaves would also tutor children and help them with their studies. In some households slaves would be do by like family and given certain rights.Most Romans believed in the idea that if a slave were treated well they would work harder than if they were treated poorly. Although all the statistics point to the paterfamilias having supreme right over everyone, only in times of ask and punishment would the paterfamilias use their rights. Otherwise he would be a loving, caring father figure who also tried to do what was opera hat for his family. This is all thanks the Roman morals as well as beliefs that through a strong family bond, they could acquire and hold power. Many of these beliefs as well as morals have been passed down to our society immediately such as a strong family bond.