Ancient civilisations may initially conjure images of men in armour, painting grand murals, crafting intricate pottery or wielding authority as kings and politicians. It is easy to focus on male activities in the ancient world, primarily because much of traditional history has done precisely that. However, history is not merely the story of men – it also includes women’s stories, roles, and accomplishments. This article delves into the often understated but vital role women played in ancient civilisations.

The colossal pyramids’ shadows from the flourishing civilisations of the past obscure the gender dynamics that shaped these societies. An examination of ancient civilisations reveals a vast panorama of female roles, from the traditional nurturing roles to queens who ruled empires and female soldiers, priests, and labourers. Our journey will take us to ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, and China to uncover the multifaceted aspect of women’s roles in these historic societies.

One needs to begin with the civilisation of ancient Egypt, which had progressive outlooks about gender roles compared to the other civilisations of the era. Women enjoyed substantial legal protections; they had the right to own and inherit property, sign contracts, and initiate divorce (1). Some royal women like Hatshepsut even ascended to the pharaoh’s role, wielding paramount authority (2).

In contrast, ancient Greek society is often considered the first civilisation to systematically marginalise women. Athenian society confined women to the private sphere, severely restricting their participation in the public sphere. Nonetheless, there are accounts of women as priestesses, poets, and even philosophers. Spartan women are of particular interest as they enjoyed an uncommon degree of freedom and independence. They could own property, be educated, and participate in athletic events (3).

Roman society provides a nuanced picture of women’s roles in antiquity. Evidence from legal documents and inscriptions indicates that Roman women, like their Egyptian counterparts, had control over their property. Women exerted influence in society, primarily through their family links. Still, political positions and societal power remained the prerogative of men (4).

In ancient Mesopotamia, the world’s earliest known civilisation, women’s roles varied significantly depending on their socio-economic status. Although largely limited to the domestic realm, some did carve out roles as priestesses, scribes, or merchants. Excavations of Sumerian grave sites have unearthed evidence of early female physicians, providing tantalising clues of women in unexpected roles (5).

Finally, our historical sojourn brings us to ancient China, where Confucian philosophy dominated the societal structure. Women’s roles were confined largely to the home as wives, mothers, and homemakers. Despite this, some women managed to transcend their prescribed roles, such as Empress Wu, who vigorously ruled China in her own right during the seventh century (6).

The examination of these diverse civilisations offers an array of insights into the roles women played and their societal standing. These societies awarded women varying degrees of economic, social, and political power, highlighting the complexity and diversity of ancient civilisations regarding gender roles. History conveys that gender relationships in the past were not universally patriarchal nor were they equal. They varied significantly from one culture to another and within different social classes and time epochs.

Several points arise from our exploration. First, women in many ancient societies, despite patriarchal norms, could and did hold influential positions. Second, the economic, legal, and social rights women enjoyed differed hugely across these civilisations, offering us a mosaic snapshot of females in the ancient world.

It is essential to consider how these roles and societal constructs have influenced women’s roles in present times. The situation of women today is an echo of the past – both the restrictions and the dynamic roles women carved for themselves. The historical narratives still influence contemporary perceptions of gender, power, and societal roles, serving as both a warning and an understanding of power dynamics imposed by traditions.

We might wonder, then, why we are predominantly told the stories of men in history. Have we inherited a gender-biased view of history itself, which overlooks the roles women played in creating these societies? It suggests a need for historians to pay meticulous attention to the subtle sculpting hands of history – women, whose contribution to the making of empires, kingdoms, and civilisations has been vastly overlooked.

References and Further Reading:

1. Watterson, Barbara (1994). Women in Ancient Egypt. Stroud, UK: Alan Sutton Publishing.
2. Robins, Gay (1999). Women in Ancient Egypt. British Museum Press.
3. Pomeroy, Sarah B. (1975). Goddesses, Whores, Wives, and Slaves: Women in Classical Antiquity. New York, NY: Schocken Books.
4. Treggiari, Susan (1995). Roman Marriage: Iusti Coniuges from the Time of Cicero to the Time of Ulpian. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.
5. Scurlock, Jo Ann. (1999). Women as Healers in the ancient Near East. In Hallo W (Ed.), The Context of Scripture. Netherlands: Brill.
6. Wu, Hung. (2008). Empress Wu and the Politics of Gender in T’ang China. In Hirsh, M.J., Wailes, B. (Eds), Women and the Politics of Empowerment. Temple University Press.