Social Class and the Roman Family

Roman society, a vast and complex network of interwoven social, political, and economic elements, was built upon a rigidly structured hierarchy. At its core was the family, the familia, which was not merely a domestic unit but a microcosm of the broader societal and political order. It is within this context that the Roman system of social class took shape, drawing upon the principles of ancestry, wealth, and power.
The foundations of Roman society, its social classes, and the relationship between family and social standing were intricately linked, and a deep understanding of these foundational elements requires examining both historical concepts and primary sources that shaped the development of the Roman world.