Children in the Roman Empire

Outsiders Within

Christian Laes

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English

Cambridge University Press
03 March 2011

History; European history; Ancient history: to c 500 CE; Social & cultural history; Age groups: children

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.

By: Christian Laes
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 160mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 680g
ISBN: 9780521897464
ISBN 10: 0521897467
Pages: 350
Publication Date: 03 March 2011
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Christian Laes is an Assistant Professor of Latin and Ancient History at the Universities of Brussels and Antwerp. He has published widely on the experience of life in Roman times and late antiquity, and more specifically on the subjects of childhood and youth. To date he has published four books as well as some twenty international contributions on the subject.

Reviews for Children in the Roman Empire: Outsiders Within

'Superb.' Times Literary Supplement 'Very useful as a reference work ... it touches on nearly every question one might have about Roman childhood.' London Review of Books