ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a discussion on the history of family and children in late antiquity. It explores the representations of childhood socialisation and family dynamics in late antiquity; this would introduce a new approach to the study of late antique childhood. The chapter divides the discussion of the autobiographical texts by different actors present in the processes of childhood socialisation. It begins with the categorisation of modern sociological studies, which have identified family and parents, schooling, peer groups and mass media as the central socialising agents. The chapter explores schooling and religion, and then considers the representations of work play and peer groups. It explains the influence of parents, and finally that of relatives and other household members. The chapter deals briefly with the role of storytelling in the narratives. The autobiographical narratives are full of references to stories apparently circulating inside the household, both vertically from generation to generation, and horizontally within the household and the networks of relatives.
