Question

By the 2nd century C.E., three changes occurred in the Roman family.

a) The Roman family became more extended, divorce was prohibited, and women gained equal rights.
b) The Roman family became smaller and more nuclear, divorce became common, and women lost many legal rights.
c) The Roman family remained unchanged from earlier times.
d) The Roman family evolved into a matriarchal structure.

Answer 1

By the 2nd century C.E., the Roman family had evolved to become smaller, divorce was more common, and women's legal rights diminished, despite some societal participation outside the traditional roles.

Step-by-step explanation:

By the 2nd century C.E., three changes occurred in the Roman family were that the family structure became smaller and more nuclear, divorce became more common, and women started to lose many of their legal rights. The Roman family unit was a fundamental aspect of Roman society, reflecting social classes and the patriarchy evident within political structures.

While the pater families held legal power within the family, women were still expected to manage household affairs and engage in professions outside the home, challenging traditional gender roles to a degree. However, the autonomy women experienced was not akin to equal rights. The Roman economy, politics, and culture were deeply intertwined with family dynamics and influenced by paternal authority and societal hierarchies.