CLA231H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Pater Familias, Potestas, Nuclear Family
Document Summary
Marriage was not a personal relationship but an economic arrangement between the groom and bride"s father. It was transfer of the bride from father"s house/control (potestas) to the groom"s. The ultimate goal of this arrangement was for the groom to expand their line and produce heirs. The seal/guarantee of this arrangement was a dowry, bride"s family provided to sustain her. A dowry was for husband to use as he saw fit but to be returned to the bride"s family if the marriage ended (unless the reason for separation was perceived to be the bride"s fault) The woman never owned anything anything that transferred was from father to husband. Later on, this changed early on however women legally could not own anything. Men married late 20s, whereas women shortly after puberty. Women in a sense were treated as children. Men allowed to have sex with male/female slaves as well as any free women who were not married.
