1. Women in Late Antiquity/Roman Empire
By Nicole Chandonnet and Eva Leersnyder

2. Women in the Roman Empire
Political Power
Sex Roles
Women were under complete control of the pater familias
Arranged marriages and appointed guardians
Different types of marriages
By the time of Augustus a women was exempt from control after 3 children, and free after having four.
The Death Penalty

3. Women in the Roman Empire
Right to inherit money and property.
The role of a wife
Women of upper class
Status in Rome
A woman’s education
People of lower class
Womens role in Roman Religion

4. Women in Early Christianity
The early Christian Church’s view of women
Jesus approach to women
Jesus defines contemporary, social customs
Jesus demonstrates that he values women equally with men.
Marriage

5. Pagan and Christian Lifestyles
Dowry
Legal marriage age
Father picks the husband
When does legal independence come in?
According to Constantine, a husband was not to be given any property or even money from his spouse.
Slaves could not marry
Divorce (The law formed under Constantine)
Christianity-enlarged womens’ possibilities

6. Review What were the two types of marriages called?
Answer: Manus and Non-manus
Roman women had the right to inherit _ and _?
Answer: Money and Property
The status in Rome was based on what?
Answer: Wealth
What is one of the ways in which Christians broke from the Roman Conception of Women?
Answer: It was in their perception of marriage.
How old did you have to be to legally get married?
Answer: 12 years old
When could a married woman become legally independent?
Answer: If her father died.
What would happen if a husband used some of his wife’s dowry, but then go a divorce?
Answer: The man would have to give it all back.
A Woman could only get a divorce if she had _ and _ support.
Answer: Moral and financial

7. Ancient Roman Dessert

8. Bibliography
Bunsen, Matthew. “women in ancient Rome.” Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire, Revised Edition. New York: Facts on File, Inc., Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. (accessed January 18, 2014).
Clark, Gillian. “Women in Late Antiquity: Pagan and Christian Lifestyles.” Oxford University Press, (accessed January 18, 2014).
Doster, Ann Lynn and Sarah White. “Comparing the Status of Women in the Early Christian Church With Their Contemporaries in Greco-Roman Culture at Large.”The Darmouth Apologia, (accessed January 19, 2014).
Tetlow, Elisabeth M. “The Status of Women in Greek, Roman, and Jewish Society.” Women and Ministry in the New Testament. (accessed January 18, 2014).