Children in the Roman Empire
Outsiders Within

This book illuminates the lives of the 'forgotten' children of ancient Rome and draws parallels and contrasts with contemporary society.

Christian Laes (Author)

9781107671225, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 September 2016

352 pages, 6 b/w illus.
23 x 15.4 x 1.8 cm, 0.51 kg

'Laes has masterfully presented not only the social meaning of childhood in Roman antiquity, but also the grim realities of children's lives.' Ann-Cathrin Harders, The Journal of Roman Studies

Roman children often seem to be absent from the ancient sources. How did they spend their first years of life? Did they manage to find their way among the various educators, often slaves, who surrounded them from an early age? Was Roman education characterised by loving care or harsh discipline? What was it like to be a slave child? Were paedophilia and child labour accepted and considered 'normal'? This book focuses on all 'forgotten' Roman children: from child emperors to children in the slums of Rome, from young magistrates to little artisans, peasants and mineworkers. The author has managed to trace them down in a wide range of sources: literature and inscriptions, papyri, archaeological finds and ancient iconography. In Roman society, children were considered outsiders. But at the same time they carried within them all the hopes and expectations of the older generation, who wanted them to become full-fledged Romans.

Methodological introduction
1. How did children live? The demography, ecology and psychosocial reality of life in Roman antiquity
2. Early childhood (0–7 years)
3. Roman children at school (approximately 7-15 years)
4. Roman children at work
5. Paedophilia and paederasty
Concluding remarks
Glossary.

Subject Areas: Social & cultural anthropology, ethnography [JHMC], Social & cultural history [HBTB], Ancient history: to c 500 CE [HBLA]