In ancient history the roles of men and women were not very different from their respective roles today. Our selected readings show that the influences of men and women differed between cultures. In The Confessions of Lady Nijo we see that in ancient Japan women played a more important part in politics than they did in other parts of the ancient world. In Sundiata we are told the story of a young African prince who unites the twelve kingdoms of ancient Mali. And in The Epic of Gilgamesh we read of an ancient Sumerian king and his quest for knowledge and immortality.
The way that Lady Nijo recounts her story in journal form is very interesting and gives a whole aspect to the story that could not be captured otherwise. The inner feelings of a young girl put in situations such as hers just could not be conveyed in any other way. It is crucial to the story that it is told that way. As a child Nijo was promised to the Prince, soon to be Emperor. As she grows closer to him she is not so disturbed by him and she begins to notice things that go on in the imperial court, the way that the Emperor's concubines and other women play a role in politics. In most cultures that we hear stories about, the king's concubines were nothing but his slaves, who's only purpose was to please his sexual appetite and bear him sons. But here we see that in Japan things were different, both men and women, despite their occupation, played a part in the legislative process and in court politics. Because of her father's influential position in the court, and the fact that she was from the Minamoto clan, Nijo was expected to play a part in the imperial court. The favor of the Emperor only increased these expectations and caused them to become reality much more quickly than they would have otherwise. She was a concubine to the Emperor GoFukakusa and bore him a son, which briefly increased her position in society, but this child died while still an infant, which was a bad sign, and kept her from rising to an influential position.
The women of ancient Athens were treated poorly by men. ... Ancient Greek men also controlled women as items of personal property. Additionally men treated women as sexual objects in ancient Greek society. Athenian men openly expressed the contempt that ancient Greek society had for women. ... Athenian women were highly disrespected by men in ancient Greek society. ...
Yet invoking the Biblical text has been done to justify women's subordination and devaluation to men. ... In the Hebrew Bible 1426 names are mentioned and 1315 of them are men's. ... Ancient Hebrew or Jewish culture grew out of the societies of the ancient Near East. ... The name Asherah is mentioned forty times in the Hebrew Bible. ... Scholarly studies of the Bible illuminate the role of women in ancient Hebrew times. ...
The Middle Ages, also known as the medieval times, was a time of royalty where many women liked using certain products to better their appearance. ... Ancient Greece and Rome both used makeup quite heavily in their everyday, but this concept was actually adopted from one of the ancient Egyptian cultures. ... The slaves created pigments which were used on the lips, cheeks and eyes on both women and men. ... In medieval times, cosmetics were very popular and desired, and they are still seen like this today. ... Although it was banned for making women look sinful and immoral, they were an importa...
WOMEN IN ANCIENT EGYPT Women in the ancient times of Egypt have been depicted in various ways according to different historical perspectives. ... It was thought that women had an equal position to men economically. ... The economic and legal position of women in Ancient Egypt was quite equal to that of Ancient Egyptian men. ... As stated earlier, the role of women economically was fairly equal to the role that men had. ... There was a dual perspective of women in ancient Egypt. ...
Antique vases and statues abound with figures of women, some carrying over to modern times. ... Numerous problems present themselves in reconstructing the life of women in ancient Greece. ... Not being frequently mentioned in ancient Greek sources does not imply that women were not vital to society. ... In later Greek times, Helen was revered as a goddess, especially by the Spartans, her natal home. ... " Not much is known about this time concerning women or men. ...
Both Athenian and Spartan women lived much of their lives separately from the men of their societies. ... This was not an academic education for the women or the men. ... They were also taught that their lives should be dedicated to the state. (42) In most Greek states, women were required to stay indoors at all times although only the upper classes could afford to observe this custom. ... Attempts were made to get rid of the practice of needing a dowry to get married. (91) The ancient historian, Herodotus, wrote about the women of Sparta. ... A Spartan woman named Gorgo is mentioned sev...
Since early historical times, women have been considered not only intellectually inferior to men but also a major source of temptation and evil. ... Women in ancient society Hebrew, Greek, Roman had a domestic, not public, role. ... He consistently treated women and men as equals. ... Jesus used terminology which treated women as equal to men. ... Life was certainly difficult for women in ancient times. ...
An exception to most other ancient societies, Egyptian women achieved practical equality with Egyptian men. They enjoyed a lot of the same rights ad men. ... "(2) Unfortunately the women of ancient Egypt, like all women, were the victims of crime and rape. ... Although self-enslavement appears to have been illegal in Egypt, both men and women practiced it. ... Consequently, false penises were put on the mummified bodies of men and artificial nipples were put on the mummified bodies of women. ...
In one epistle, he declares that men and women are equal. ... The passages that state that women are subordinate to men have been misinterpreted. ... Women in biblical times usually had little education and rabbis warned against teaching the law to women. ... This activity was considered shameful, particularly in an ancient culture where any public exposure of women was considered a disgrace. ... This passage is not talking about all men and women. ...