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Women\'s roles in Rome; references needed
#1
I was doing a school demo today to 3rd graders, and there were a lot of questions from the girls on the role of women. They are continually frustrated that there were no women in the Roman army, as some of them want to join the US Army later on.<br>
The teacher said that it was a good basis for discussion and helped the kids realize how far women in society have come since Rome (or even the early 20th century), but they were asking for books that would be oriented to 3rd grade or later that would address women's roles.<br>
Any recommendations?<br>
And, any recommendations on books on women's roles, legal status and place in Rome? <p></p><i></i>
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
RAT member #6?
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#2
I have a book called "Women in Ancient Greece and Rome" by Michael Massey, published by Cambridge University Press which would be suitable for school children Grade III and older. It's not terribly in-depth, but it's a start. I'm not sure where it would be available. I bought my copy at a university book store.<br>
<br>
Wendy <p></p><i></i>
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#3
I just discovered this new forum. It is a great idea Rich and I hope it will be as successful as RAT!<br>
Women in Roman Britain by Lindsay Allason-Jones (British Museum Publications) gives a good insight into the lives of women in general.<br>
I also have a book called Growing up and growing old in ancient Rome by Mary Harlowe and Ray Lawrence (Routledge), which whilst not dealing exclusively with women is very imformative on the female role and legal status. To quote from the introduction:<br>
"The focus is on the individual acting within the expectations of his or her family and the observation of outsiders. Here, we resist the temptation of creating a standard life course from birth to death, in favour of an emphasis on different experiences in the relationship between independant adults and dependant young and old."<br>
There is also a site on the web called diotima which is specifically for the study of women and gender in the ancient world. They have loads of translations of classical authors on this subject. Well worth a look!<br>
<br>
Jackie.<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
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#4
Salve Jackie!<br>
I'll definitely look for those books. Books by Allason-Jones seem to be particularly hard to come by. I have been trying for "Covetina's Well" for quite some time.<br>
<br>
The mention of Diotima inspires me to a new thread.<br>
<br>
Richard <p></p><i></i>
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
RAT member #6?
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#5
From 'Roman Civilisation' volume II The Empire<br>
<br>
<strong>Women in the Roman World - Professions and Occupations </strong><br>
<br>
A Philospopher<br>
<br>
Painters<br>
<br>
Midwives<br>
<br>
Wet Nurses<br>
<br>
Actresses<br>
<br>
Athletes<br>
<br>
Priestesses<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Ive also read somewhere else A Fishmonger <p><br>
<img src="http://www.ttforumfriends.com/images/forum/co.gif"/><br>
<br>
<span style="color:red;"><strong>[url=http://pub55.ezboard.com/btalkinghistory" target="top]Talking History Forum[/url]</strong></span></p><i></i>
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#6
I have had to do some quick study on the subject myself, but since I present mostly to university and high schools, I would find it extremely difficult to edit the subject in a positive way for third graders. My university's library has a good "Encyclopedia of the Ancient Mediterranean" edited by Michael Grant which has separate articles on women in Ancient Greece and Rome. Two other sources can prepare one for more adult audiences (most of the students are already prepared for the oppressive realities of of ancient women's societal roles) "Women, Goddesses, Wives, and Whores" I don't have the volume at hand for the author, but it's readily available and a "Women in the Ancient World" from Oxford Press with several authors. Believe me, it is a difficult subject. In my Women's Clothing in the Ancient World presentation I tap dance around obviously offensive material by having my models demonstate weaving, the transition from child to woman and the role of priestesses to avoid outright hostility. The primacy of weaving as a metaphor for life, the politics of the state and women's power (Minerva/Athene as Goddess of War and Weaving) seems to toss them enough of a curve ball that they don't think to be offended until after I'm gone and then I let the teacher deal with it.<br>
<br>
Best of luck,<br>
<br>
Wade Heaton<br>
Lucius Cornelius Libo<br>
[email protected] <br>
www.togaman.com <p></p><i></i>
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#7
There is a book on the professional women of Pompeii (author escaped me but I think I wrote it in another thread). I think one thing that is hard to convey is the levels of citizenship that existed in the Roman world, and how people legally moved from one to another. In the book, a woman citizen in Pompeii (maybe the rest of the empire) can own a shop, but not work in it unless she wants to lose her citizenship. This is hard to convey to primary school kids! <p></p><i></i>
Richard Campbell
Legio XX - Alexandria, Virginia
RAT member #6?
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#8
I just read some of your other posts. Somehow I got the idea you were in Europe. Sorry. Darren Nunez and the legio in Chalmette, LA, have crossed paths with me and even presented at the same Junior Classical League Conventions in New Orleans. I even ran into some of his people who recognized me when we were doing some video for my university on the history of our region (LA east of the Mississippi was not part of the La. Purchase, but revolt from Spain in 1810 and was the first Lone Star Republic! Take that Texas.) They were in Lewis/Clark era and Napoleanic period gear. Our free time and holidays don't converge much, and I travel a great deal. I also found at that time that some of his troupe weren't all that interested in civilian matters, at least at first. I'm currently working on upgrading my lorica and pilum, though. I got excited on when one of the threads spoke of Dan Peterson's quest for a Montefortino helmet, but found it was not yet to be. My own plans for my presentation are to develop a history of ancient warfare Greek hoplite, Republican period and so forth next year. Anyway, good to meet kindred spirits and someday we 'Mericans can give the Euros some real competition.<br>
<br>
Wade Heaton<br>
Lucius Cornelius Lbo<br>
[email protected] <br>
www.togaman.com <p></p><i></i>
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#9
Just a few titles:<br>
<br>
Georges Duby, Michelle Perrot, History of the woman: Antiquity. 1990.<br>
This is a book in Italian, but there is also a translation in Dutch. If this is the case, there must be something in English too.<br>
<br>
Wolfgang Schuller, Frauen in der Griechischen und Roemischen Geschichte, 1995. A German book.<br>
<br>
And finally a book in English:<br>
Judith Evans Grubbs, Women and the law in the Roman Empire.<br>
A sourcebook on marriage, divorce and widowhood., Routledge, London/New York, 2002.<br>
ISBN:0-415-15241-0.<br>
<br>
These are not the books that are easy for schoolchildren.<br>
But maybe they will give you some ideas and examples that you can use if you are answering their questions.<br>
<br>
Gaivs Civilis <p></p><i></i>
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