Roman Home and Family

• What is the role of the paterfamilias in a Roman household?

  He is the head of the household.
• What does the term 'familia' include in Roman society?

  It includes slaves and property of the house.
• What power did the paterfamilias have in early Roman times?

  He had the power of life and death.
• What was one duty of the paterfamilias regarding newborns?

  To inspect and decide their fate.
• What was the paterfamilias responsible for in terms of education?

  Overseeing the education of his children.
• Who would the paterfamilias typically appoint as a tutor for his children?

  An educated slave.
• What was the paterfamilias's role in his daughter's marriage?

  To arrange a suitable marriage.
• What was the religious role of the paterfamilias?

  He led worship at the household shrine.
• What was the patron/client relationship in Roman society?

  Wealthy men supported poorer Romans.
• What were clients expected to do for their patron?

  Appear at their patron's house daily.
• What did clients hope to receive from their patron?

  A small handout or business opportunity.
• How did the patron/client system function in Roman society?

  It facilitated mutual support among social classes.
• What was the state of education for children in early Roman times?

  There were no formal schools.
• How did Roman education evolve over time?

  It was influenced by Greek civilization.
• What was the role of the litterator in Roman education?

  He taught reading, writing, and arithmetic.
• What was the typical environment for early Roman schools?

  They were informal and often in public spaces.
• What did pupils use for writing in Roman schools?

  Wax tablets and a stilus.
• What was the significance of the graffito found in Pompeii?

  It shows teachers met students in public.
• What was the role of the grammaticus in Roman education?

  He taught Greek and Roman literature.
• Which famous Roman writers were studied by the grammaticus?

  Cicero, Virgil, Horace, and Ovid.
• What was a common practice in the grammaticus's class?

  Pupils learned and recited passages by heart.
• How did the education system reflect Roman society's values?

  It emphasized citizenship and cultural heritage.
• What type of paper was invented in ancient Egypt?

  Thick reed paper
• What role did a slave play for a wealthy pupil in ancient education?

  Supervised studies and acted as a tutor
• At what age did boys typically move on to the grammaticus?

  About twelve
• What was the basis of studies at the grammaticus?

  Greek and Roman literature
• Name one of Rome's greatest writers from the first century BC.

  Cicero
• What was a standard text studied in the grammaticus' class?

  Virgil's Aeneid
• What was emphasized in the curriculum at the grammaticus stage?

  Development of a strong working memory
• What language did pupils start to learn at the grammaticus stage?

  Greek
• Why was Greek considered important in ancient Rome?

  It was the language of educated people
• Who were some great thinkers and writers from the ancient Greek world?

  Homer, Plato, Herodotus, Demosthenes
• What other subjects were studied alongside literature at the grammaticus stage?

  Music, astronomy, philosophy, natural science
• How did astronomy relate to the study of literature in ancient education?

  Astronomy informed poetic references to stars
• At what age did pupils typically move on to lessons with the rhetor?

  Sixteen
• What skill did the rhetor teach his pupils?

  The art of public speaking
• Why was public speaking crucial in ancient Rome?

  There were no modern communication means
• What type of exercises did pupils perform in the rhetor's class?

  Debate historical or literary events
• How did Cicero describe the qualities a pupil should develop?

  Attention to word choice and sentence construction
• What was a Roman dinner party called in Latin?

  Cena