Read the quote about women in Roman society.
“[T]he position of the Roman matron was quite different from that of the Greek matron in the time of Pericles. The Roman matron was mistress in her own household. As the husband took charge of all external transactions, so the wife was supreme in household arrangements.”
—James Donaldson, Woman; Her Position and Influence in Ancient Greece and Rome
Based on your knowledge of the role of women in the Roman republic, provide evidence to prove the author’s claim that the position of Roman women was different from that of Greek women.
There is evidence to support the claim made by the author that the position of Roman women was different from that of Greek women. In Roman society, women held more control and authority within their own households compared to Greek women during the time of Pericles.
One piece of evidence is the custom of the Roman matron being the mistress of her own household. Roman women had significant influence and power over domestic affairs, including managing the household budget, supervising servants, and making important decisions related to the family. This is in contrast to Greek women who had limited roles and were essentially confined to the private realm of the household, with minimal involvement in public and economic matters.
Another evidence is the clear division of responsibilities between husbands and wives in Roman society. The author states that while husbands were in charge of external transactions, wives were supreme in household arrangements. This suggests a hierarchical structure within Roman households where women had a recognized and significant role and authority over domestic affairs, while men handled external affairs. In Greek society, women had much less control over their own lives and households, often being subject to the authority and decisions of their male relatives.
In conclusion, the evidence supports the author's claim that the position of Roman women was different from that of Greek women during the time of Pericles. Roman women enjoyed greater autonomy and authority within their households compared to their Greek counterparts, indicating a more prominent role and influence for women in Roman society.