family. He had total authority over every member of the household and owned all the .
property of the family. Even when children became adults, he still over-powered .
them, due to the fact that he was responsible for the actions of any members of the .
household. He had the authority to kick a child or even an adult out of the house, but .
if a crime was committed by any family member, he would be punished for what they .
did. A woman in the Roman family household had absolutely no authority. Her duties .
were simply to take care of the house and to have and nurture children.
A number of families which were supposed to be descended from a common .
ancestor formed a clan or gens. Like a family, the gens was bound together by .
common religious rites. It was also led by a common ruler, who performed the .
religious rites, and led the people in war. The gens was also a group that provided .
guardians for minor children, the insane, and spendthrifts. It also took over property .
left by members who died without any heirs. It conducted certain religious services, .
and sometimes had a common burial plot. It even passed resolution which were .
binding on it's members.
Marital and mate selection in Ancient Rome had very little to do with those .
who were actually getting married. Unlike many societies today, marriage .
arrangements were made by the fathers of the young couple. Roman fathers chose .
wives for their sons, and gave their daughters in marriage without considering their .
children's wishes. Consent of both parties was necessary by law and did not mean .
agreement of the bride and bride groom, but rather agreement of the fathers. The .
law also required that both parties to a marriage be physically mature, unmarried, .
and not too closely related. This means that the groom had to be at least 14 years of .
age, and the bride had to be at least 12 years of age, and could not be relatives four .
times removed.
In Ancient Rome, there were two general types of marriages.
