The domus , or family home, was where wealthy Romans conducted much of their business; a Roman patron would invite his clients to his home, and luxurious estates were places of wealth display. The family unit was the cornerstone of Roman life.

Since the father held the ultimate authority to dispense justice within a family, its members sought to further the family’s prosperity through various means. While elite Roman men served in politics or in the military, women oversaw the household.

clients — less well-off Romans who relied on a patron’s gifts for subsistence. patron — a wealthy Roman aristocrat sought by clients in need of assistance. domus — the name for a typical Roman house, as well as the family unit. manumission — the process of releasing a person from slavery, usually in front of a magistrate or via a slaveholder’s will, or through a person’s purchasing their own freedom.