Greece and Rome Refocused

- Unit 2. Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
- Getting Started
  - What Are We Learning?
  - Observe and Think
  - Map Your Mind
- Ancient Greece, Cradle of Democracy
  - The Land of Greece
  - The History of Greece
    - Crete
    - Mycenae
    - Dark Age
    - Archaic Age
    - Classical Age
    - Hellenistic Age
  - Political Organization
  - An Unequal Society
    - Women
  - Economy
- Self-Evaluation Quiz
- Complementary Activites
  - The Greek and Latin Roots of English
  - One Myth, One Song
  - Games, Comics and Stuff
- References

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# Women

From our Correspondent in Ancient Greece

With the exception of women in ancient Sparta, Greek women had very limited freedom outside the home. If they had their husband's permission, they could attend weddings, funerals, some religious festivals, and visit female neighbors for brief periods of time. But without their husband's permission, they could do none of these things. They could not leave the house, not even go to a temple to honor their gods, without their husband's permission.

In their home, however, Greek women were in charge! Their job was to run the house, make the clothes, and bear children.

Most Greek women did not do housework themselves. Most Greek households had slaves. Female slaves cooked, cleaned, and worked in the fields. Male slaves watched the door, to make sure no one came in when the man of the house was away, except for female neighbors, and acted as tutors to the young male children.

Wives and daughters were not allowed to watch the Olympic Games as the participants in the games did not wear clothes. Chariot racing was the only game women could win, and only if they owned the horse. If that horse won, they received the prize.

Excerpted from http://greece.mrdonn.org/women.html

Now it's your turn
Women in Sparta were much more limited than other Greek women.
True. False.
Incorrect. The text says "with the exception of women in Sparta"
Correct. The text says "with the exception of women in Sparta"
They could visit female neighbours whenever they wanted.
True. False.
Incorrect. The text says "if they had their husband's permission".
Correct. The text says "if they had their husband's permission".
If they wanted to honour Goddess Athena in her temple, they needed their husband's permission.
True. False.
Correct. The text says "not even go to the temple... without their husband's permission".
Incorrect. The text says "not even go to the temple... without their husband's permission".
Few Greek women did housework themselves.
True. False.
Correct. The text says "Most Greek women did not do housework.."
Incorrect. The text says "Most Greek women did not do housework.."
Many women had a sort of private security to protect them from undesidered visits.
True. False.
Correct. Male slaves did it.
Incorrect. Male slaves did it.
The participants in the Olympic Games were naked.
True. False.
Correct. The text says "did not wear clothes"
Incorrect. The text says "did not wear clothes"
This is the reason why women could not attend the Games.
True. False.
Correct. The text says "as the participants... did not wear clothes".
Incorrect. The text says "as the participants... did not wear clothes".
Women could win chariot racing if they were the driver.
True. False.
Incorrect. The text says "only if they owned the horse"
Correct. The text says "only if they owned the horse"

## Activity: Parallel Lives

Click here to get started. Divide into pairs and choose a character. Then follow instructions. This is to compare the lives of Athenian and Spartan men and women.

When you have finished, write the main differences you have found in the lives of your corresponding characters and then compare with the other classmates.

It is said that Spartan women were freer than Athenians. You are now real experts on the issue. What were those differences?

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