Ancient History Preliminary Exam Prep Questions And Answers All Correct.

What are limitations of sources on women? - correct answer - women are presented almost exclusively from a male perspective; often hostile - little is heard from women themselves - lack of education/illiterate - social opposition to women's attempts to write - sources may have existed but not survived over the years What are some sources on women? - correct answer - written sources - ancient historians - frescos - figurines what were the attitudes towards women in Greece? + source - correct answer - conflicting views - mothers/passing on legitimacy - sheltered from other men - limited access to society/activities Menander (greek playwright): "A man who teaches a woman to write should recognize that he is providing poison to an asp" what were the attitudes towards women in Rome? - correct answer - more highly regarded than Greek women as wives/mothers - fixed views on what women should be like - enjoyed more freedoms - women dominated social life What was the social status of women in ancient greece? - correct answer - clear divisions - different classes according to wealth/status/living areas - wealthy women were restricted/led secluded lives - status as wives/mothers, holders of legal rights, property holders Types of women in Athenian society - - correct answer - slave women formed another group - under control of their masters 1. Gynaikes - married to citizen men - legitimate children - only appeared in public w male ocunterpart - poorly educated - secluded at home 2. Heterai - generally foreign + educated sexual/intellectual companions to wealthy men at Symposia - illigitimate childrenn 3 Pallaikai - conclubines/slave girls 4. Pornoi - prostitutes of streets/brothels What was the social status of women in sparta? - correct answer - social status/respect - treated like their brothers - access to food/exercise - married in late teens to protect from dangers of early child-bearinng - weren't confined to their homes - wore less constricting clothing - an their households when men were preoccupied Motherhood in sparta + source - - correct answer - once women were matured, they bore children - married approx. 18-19 - entire way of life was dedicated to producing fiere warriors - mother's responsibility was to pass on military values to their kids - spartan mothers were fiercly commited to the state Plutarch (greek-roman biographer): "women should only become pregnant when they are ripe for it" Education in sparta + source - - correct answer - spartan girls were publicaly educated by the state - mother taught the basics of reading/writing to daughters - the educational system also included team games/choral singing Xenophon (Greek historian): "physical training for the female sex no lesss than the male...thinking that if both parents were strong their children would be moe robust" social status in ancient rome - - correct answer 1. Patricians (ruling class/citizens) 2. Plebeians (Average working citizens) 3. Freed Men 4. Slaves - women had no status of their own - belonged to the class of their male counterpart Upperclass: - could belong to 'Senetorial'/'Equestrian' class depending on men's wealth/political status - special economic/legal privileges Lowerclass: - could be 'Plebians'/'Freewomen'/'Slaves' - could marry other citizens/have legitimate children who would also be citizens - Freedwomen had restricted rights; could become citizens - Slavewomen had no status; could be set free by masters What was the overall role of women within the family? - correct answer most important role: wife/mother - they were secluded to ensure that their children were the legitimate offspring of their husbands - marriages connected families for political/economical/social benefit Overall role of women within the household - - correct answer - women spent their lives working within the household - nature of domestic work was similar for all classes -- it varied according to size of household/n.o of slaves - slaves worked in: cooking, cleaning, washing, weaving - upper class women supervised slaves - women of citizen class managed household finances - daughters were educated in skills needed to run their households - some Athenian women were literate/numerate -- evidence: vases of women reading from scrolls Role of women within family in Athens - - correct answer - virginal girl married at approx. 14 to old husbands chosen by their fathers - chosen husband was usually a relative