K. C. Hanson and Douglas E. Oakman
RESOURCES FOR CHAPTER TWO
Chapter Two
"All in the Family"
Kinship in Roman Palestine
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Chapter Summary
The first key issue of first-century kinship issues is gender. In this patriarchal society, male and female roles were sharply differentiated, as were there social expectations and dress. Genealogies were ancient lists that articulated a family's or an individual's honor; these can be unilineal (following one descendant per generation) or segmented (following multiple descendants per generation). These genealogies are based on principles of descent: patrilineal (following only male links) matrilineal (following only female links), or cognatic (combining both male and female links to one's ancestors). The marriage pattern followed throughout the Middle East for centuries has been endogamy—marriage between close relatives (usually paternal cousins, or uncles/nieces). The "gifts" surrounding a marriage in the ancient world included "dowry" (the property a bride's family provides the bride or the couple), "indirect dowry" (property the groom's family provides the bride or couple), and "bridewealth" (the property a groom's family gave to the bride's family). |
"BTB Reader's Guide: Kinship"
