HIST 434 Women in the Ancient World

Women in the ancient world are often seen as powerless and invisible members of society. Yet we know of startling examples where women took the foremost positions of power, such as Hatshepsut, who became king of Egypt in the 15th century BC, and Zenobia, who declared herself Empress of Rome in the 3rd century AD. What roles did women play in ancient Mediterranean societies and what was the basis for their rise to power in ancient states? How do ancient perceptions of female power still influence our own views of women in leadership today? Textual and archaeological sources will help us answer these questions as we study the lives of women, royal and common, in the context of their ancient societies.

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History and Philosophy