Children Family in Ancient Rome

1 children

1.1 starting family
1.2 life course
1.3 wet nurses , pedagogues
1.4 adoption

children
starting family

the nuclear family of father, mother, , children essential ancient roman family structure. although mothers gave birth many children, size of roman family remained relatively small because of high infant , child mortality rate. twenty-five percent of infants died within first year, while 25% died before tenth birthday. such high rate meant women had bare multiple children because many not make adulthood. however, couples did not want become pregnant, there forms of contraception available them, abortion.

life course

in infancy, new born either accepted family his/her father in ritual called tollere liberos or child exposed father, without consent of mother. exposure differed infanticide , abandoned child taken , raised else. child considered infant until he/she 7 years old. @ time, boys begin education , introduced public life. girls remained in household learn skills need wives , mothers. legally, girl considered child until twelve years old , boy until fourteen years old. young girls engaged @ twelve years old , married @ thirteen man chosen father. males transitioned adulthood during toga virilis ceremony when received white toga worn adults. childhood ended women once married, still considered childlike because of weaker dispositions compared men.

sarcophagus depicting children @ play


wet nurses , pedagogues

within household, infants , children have interacted servants , household slaves. during infancy, babies nursed , cared wet nurses, or nutrix. nurses used families of every social level , employed when mother had died childbirth, unable produce milk, wanted become pregnant again or ill. nurse, besides having moral character, expected speak because close interaction charge highly influential child s development.

pedagogues, or male tutors, minders both male , female children. of servile or free status , responsible teaching children proper etiquette , life skills. pedagogues chaperons , tutors. wet nurses, pedagogues employed families of social classes.

adoption

since mortality rate of children in ancient rome high, many parents needed adopt. common if parents unable have children. adoption occurred because of need have heirs continue family name. nephew or grandson adopted if couple did not have son. particularly prominent among roman emperors. julius caesar, example, adopted grandnephew gaius octavius (later known emperor augustus) because had no sons succeed him. in instances, masters free slave in order officially adopt him family. doing so, slave take on family name , become heir.