Women in Roman Law and SocietyThe legal situation of the women of ancient Rome was extremely complex, and - since there was no sharp distinction between free woman, freedwoman and slave - the definition of their legal position is often heard. Basing her lively analysis on detailed study of literary and epigraphic material, Jane F. Gardner explores the provisions of the Roman laws as they related to women. Dr Gardner describes the ways in which the laws affected women throughout their lives - in families, as daughters, wives and parents; as heiresses and testators; as owners and controllers of property; and as workers. She looks with particular attention at the ways in which the strict letter of the law came to be modified, softened, circumvented, and even changed, pointing out that the laws themselves tell us as much about the economic situation of women and the range of opportunities available to them outside the home. |
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... mother had no legal power to prevent this. Child exposure was practised, and was not made illegal until A.D. 374, although the evidence does not allow us to determine whether there was any discrimination against girl babies. The father ...
... mother had no legal power to prevent this. Child exposure was practised, and was not made illegal until A.D. 374, although the evidence does not allow us to determine whether there was any discrimination against girl babies. The father ...
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... mother—even, like Cicero's daughter Tullia, who predeceased him, have had several marriages. Ways round the difficulty were devised. The son was, like the slave entrusted with business as his master's agent, given control over a sum of ...
... mother—even, like Cicero's daughter Tullia, who predeceased him, have had several marriages. Ways round the difficulty were devised. The son was, like the slave entrusted with business as his master's agent, given control over a sum of ...
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... mother of Marcus Aurelius.58 In three recently published papyri from Oxyrhynchus we find three sisters, apparently sharing family estates with their brother, a local gymnasiarch and banker, and contracting with a potter to make jars in ...
... mother of Marcus Aurelius.58 In three recently published papyri from Oxyrhynchus we find three sisters, apparently sharing family estates with their brother, a local gymnasiarch and banker, and contracting with a potter to make jars in ...
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... mother was univira—this had been her one and only marriage. On becoming a Vestal, the girl passed out of potestas. She did this, however, without undergoing capitis deminutio and without emancipation. Although she had passed out of her ...
... mother was univira—this had been her one and only marriage. On becoming a Vestal, the girl passed out of potestas. She did this, however, without undergoing capitis deminutio and without emancipation. Although she had passed out of her ...
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... mother) had broken the father's will, made earlier (Watson (1967) 25 and 121–2). This could have been because either the mother, now one of his sui heredes (direct heirs) would need to be instituted heir, or a disinherison clause put in ...
... mother) had broken the father's will, made earlier (Watson (1967) 25 and 121–2). This could have been because either the mother, now one of his sui heredes (direct heirs) would need to be instituted heir, or a disinherison clause put in ...
Contents
Some Effects of Marriage | |
Divorce | |
Dowry | |
Sexual Offences | |
Children | |
Inheritance and Bequest | |
Slaves and Freedwomen | |
Women at Work | |
The Emancipation of Roman Women | |
Bibliography | |
Index | |
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Common terms and phrases
adultery aedile agnates allowed apparently attested Augustan Augustus bequest betrothal Buckland century B.C. child Cicero citizen claim classical period coemptio concubine consent contract conubium Corbett daughter death divorce dowry edict Egypt emancipated emperor evidence father female FIRA free marriage freeborn freed freedman freedwoman Gaius girl Hadrian heirs on intestacy heredes household husband illegitimate children inheritance intestacy intestate succession iuris ius liberorum jurists Kaser later legacy legitimate lex Aelia Sentia lex Julia lex Voconia male man’s manumission manumitted manus marriage married mother offence owner Papia Papinian pater patron Paul peculium penalty persons Pliny possible potestas praetor praetorian probably prosecution prostitutes relationship remarry Republic rescript Roman Egypt Roman law Roman women Rome rules says sctum senatusconsultum Severus slave social specified status stuprum sui iuris testamentary Treggiari tutela tutor legitimus Twelve Tables Ulpian Vestal Watson widow wife wife’s wives woman