Marriage, Sex and Death

Dr Emma Southon lives in Belfast and is a freelance writer and editor.

"This is, in many respects, a very useful book. The family of the late Roman world is a well-researched topic, but there are few monograph-length studies that focus on the immediate post-Roman world. ... On academic reading lists the book should therefore have pride of place next to earlier key studies, such as Geoffrey Nathan’s more Rome-focussed The Family in Late Antiquity, for complementation and comparison." - Julia Hillner, Plekos 22, 2020

• Abbreviations Introduction Terminology and Time Frame Structure Part One: Creating New Families Chapter One: Property, Power and Bride Price Chapter Two: Consent to Betrothal Chapter Three: Betrothal, Desire, and Emotional Attachment Chapter Four: Having Children Chapter Four: Family Planning Conclusions to Part One Part Two: Marriage Chapter One: Property and the Limits of Marriage Chapter Two: Sex and the Meaning of Marriage Chapter Four: Divorce Chapter Five: Concordia Conclusions to Part Two Part Three: Parenthood Chapter One: Patrimony and Fatherhood Chapter Two: The Role and Meaning of Fatherhood Chapter Three: The Legal Role of Mothers Chapter Four: The Nurturing Mother Chapter Five: Parents and Betrothal Chapter Six: Parents and Adult Children Conclusions to Part Three Conclusions Appendix One: The Law Codes Appendix Two: Table of Incidence of Laws Concerning Betrothal and Marriage Appendix Three: Table of Incidence of Laws Concerning Parenting Notes