The Roman and Barbarian World and the Emergence of Early Medieval Society

Roman Society to ca 300 Terms of marriage favor groom; he is significantly older than his bride Small numbers of children preferred, investing heavily in education. Tolerance of sexuality outside marriage; A sense the world is old...

Roman Society post ca 300 Terms of marriage become more balanced; ages of groom and bride converge. Adults may forego marriage Small numbers of children preferred, investing heavily in education. Tolerance of sexuality outside marriage; Christians value chastity and celibacy A sense the world is old...

Barbarian Society Organized into tribes, sipps or septs - of roughly households each, ruled by a petty king Pagan religious traditions Isolated communities Warrior culture

Barbarian Society Non literate culture Sexual promiscuity evident; Resource polygyny practiced (the gathering of women into the households of powerful men) Many children raised, relatively little investment in their upbringing.

Similarities between Roman and Barbarian Traditions Noncommensurate households across social spectrum Patriarchal organization of society Tolerance of sexual promiscuity Post 300: vulnerable to warfare and disruption Cognatic conceptions of lineage: descent from both male and female lines (vs agnatic lineage of descent through male line)

Differences between Roman and Barbarian Society Level of civilization –literacy –technology –state structure For our purposes…. –Practices of education of children –Conceptions of the appropriate number and value of children for a household

Christian Impact on Households Christianity set goals of –imposing order on disordered societies –monogamous marriage –reducing sexual promiscuity and raising a standard of chastity and sexual loyalty for both men and women The Church sanctifies or blesses earthly rulers, and expects their support. The Church teaches morality for children, blesses marriages, enforces behavior through confession and communion.

After 700… The demise of ancient slavery The development of new patterns of landholding and therefore household organization: Feudalism and Manorialism Rule of exogamy and monogamy in marriage Example: The households of St. Germain des Pres