Final answer:
The appropriate word to fill in the blank is 'entitled,' conveying that Mariam, being an illegitimate person, would not have a legitimate claim to the privileges that entitled individuals usually have.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence in question, "She, Mariam, was an illegitimate person who would never have legitimate claim to the things over people had..." suggests the correct word to fill in the blank is 'entitled.' Therefore, the sentence should read: "She, Mariam, was an illegitimate person who would never have a legitimate claim to the things entitled people had..." The term 'entitled' means having a right or claim to something by law or by standards of society, but in the context provided, Mariam, being an illegitimate person, would not have this claim.
Historically, illegitimate children faced significant social and legal disadvantages, and often did not have the same rights to inheritance or status as legitimate heirs.1 The societal structure tended to favor legitimate heirs for maintaining purity of lineage and social stability, especially in settings such as ancient Rome. This background provides an understanding of why Mariam would not be ‘entitled’—she is seen as having no legal right or social standing to claim the privileges traditionally reserved for those born within sanctioned unions.