Women In The Ancient World

We have grown to know and learn that women in the ancient world inferior and had less status than men, because of the patriarchy system of government. In the ancient world, most of the societies were patriarchal; which is a society or government that is bee controlled by men. However, there were some exceptions to this social system. Not all ancient world considered women inferior beings to men, because in some part of the ancient world, women were priestesses, pharaohs, entertainers, goddesses and even noble wealthy women.

MARRIAGE
In both Egypt and Mesopotamia, marriages for women begins as soon as they reached puberty, which is around twelve years of age. They both had bride prices paid by the groom’s family, and gifts sent to the father
They were all under the control of their pater familias which is known as the male figure head. Drinking of wine and alcoholic drink were prohibited and it is punishable by death if caught, except from the Spartan women who were allowed to drink because they believe it helps the women fertility. Hebrew women were considered as a property to their fathers if they were not married and husbands if they were married. They had no rights in the society, no education, except for giving birth to children. They however encountered Hellenism which some people in the society reacted negatively, while the others reacted positively which were the Jewish people. This made the Jewish women have right in the society, their voices were heard in the business world by acquiring wealth, political and having quality education. In earlier Greece, men and women were considered equal because of the existence of goddesses, and women were powerful, had influence like Queen Helen, Clytemnestra and Penelope. But women were confirmed to the chores in the household, not allowed to work outside of their houses but they could attend festivals, go to the market with some company, except in Sparta, where women were fed equally with men because their main job is childbearing, and they were also educated and trained in athletics like men. In Rome, women had rights to engage in business, politics and accumulate wealth. This was influenced by the Hellenistic society. They could sign contracts or will, engage in businesses with the help of her guardian. Rome and Greece gives female the name of their father but in a feminine way, to be legally free and independent of their pater familias; such women have to be vestal virgin. They can inherit properties; if they were in an upper class society, they were allowed to go to the market, festivals, banquets and friends. Even though they