Women In Ancient Rome

The Romans’ enormous success was very remarkable compared to our study of classical Greece. The early Roman republic supported Rome’s growing population and made cities more stable. The constitution of the United States is largely modeled on that of the republic. The role and circumstances of Roman women also changed rapidly since ancient Rome was legendary founded on 753BCE and was fell in the fifth century. Roman women had some degree of independence for the ancient world when compared to Greek women. This essay will be discussing about Roman women, including the guardianship of women, marriage and divorce, and their daily life in society. All Roman women except few of them were subject to some degree of limitation on their independence

At the time of Augustus, women sui iuris who were being subject to control over neither of a father nor of a husband could own property and conduct their own business, although some restrictions still applied them and required guardian’s authorization for various transaction. For example, the legal liability was guardian and they were responsible for the administrations of business. Usually, female slave and freed women didn’t engage in outside farm work, but they worked in occupations such as spinning of wove, textiles. They were also trained as maid, hairdresser, midwives, masseuse, attendant as their owner’s needs. Since some female slavery engaged in special task such as secretary or clerk, therefore they were very skillful and well educated. Those educated female slaves likely had opportunity to have freedom. The painting on the garden wall of the Villa of Venus Marina also depicted the scene of a woman spinning. From woman’s attire, she was considered as slave or lower class status, but it wasn’t clearly indicated the sign of her status, so spinning was assigned to those slaves or it was taking place in the country was not determined yet. Unlike Greek women who usually stayed at home, at the end of republic, Roman women accompanied their husbands to dinner parties and entertained guests at home. In early Roman republic, Roman women didn’t have any direct power in politics; however, gradually upper class women who were Roman politicians’ wives and female relatives of them were actively and effectively involved in politics. They use their social connections and wealth to help their husbands, sons, and lovers to establish their future