Attitude of the Romans

• VI. 2 Marriage by `usage' (usus): If a man and woman live together continuously for a year, they are considered to be married; the woman legally is treated as the man's daughter.


Rights of fathers (paterfamilias) over the family


○ IV. 1 "A dreadfully deformed child shall be killed."


○ V. 1 "Our ancestors saw fit that "females, by reason of levity of disposition, shall remain in guardianship, even when they have attained their majority."


The Romans viewed them as lower than all men and had little rights. Table four gives the right of the fathers over the family. The Tables also say that the woman are treated as the man's daughter after living together for a year. If children are severely deformed at birth they are to be killed. There attitude toward woman and children was that they viewed that their lives were less worthy than men. The men came first above all woman and children. It was viewed almost as if the men owned the woman and children.

"THE TWELVE TABLES." California State University, Northridge. Web. 05 Mar. 2010. .