Patriarchical Roman Family - myth or reality

The institution of the Roman family, in particular the family of Roman citizens, appears to have been one of the fundaments of the stability of longevity of the sociopolitical system of Ancient Rome, together with a well-trained army, effective administration or the desire of receiving Roman citizenship on the part of Rome's provinces' elite. In historiographical works on Rome, there appears a dogmatic concept of the strong patriarchical Roman family, dominated by the despotic head of the family, i.e. the father. However, as shown by comparative studies, the levels of life expectancy and the death rate in the ancient times made it practically impossible for the head of the family to have such a strong position