Women in power Flashcards
What happened in the Athenian assembly?
- Matters of political importance discussed and voted on
- A herald would introduce topics that had been decided on by the Boule
Who was eligible to be part of the Assembly?
- Athenian citizen
- Over 18
- Have served in the military for at least 2 years
- Be male
Who wrote Assemblywomen and what is its significance?
- Aristophanes
- a play depicting women being involved in politics
Who does Assemblywomen centre around and what happens?
- Centred around a kyria called Praxigora
- She has created a plan with a group of women to take power from the men of the Assembly, because she thinks they’re doing a bad job and give it to Athenian women instead
How does Praxigora compare to the other women?
She is bossy and commanding, whilst the other women are more concerned with gossip
How do Praxigora and the women disguise themselves as men?
- Have a fake beard and male clothing
- Let their body hair grow
- Tanned outside in the sun
What is Aristophanes really trying to say in Assembly women?
- Criticising men of the assembly for being easily swayed by new, innovative ideas
- Complimenting women of Athens for sticking to traditional methods that are proven to work
Who was Agnodice?
- The first recored female doctor and midwide
What did Agnodice do to become a doctor?
- Trained as a physician in Egypt, and when she came back to Athens, she disguised herself as a man
What did Athenian men do because of Agnodice?
- They became suspicious due to their wives preferences for Agnodice, and assumed ‘he’ was having affairs with them
- They brought a court case against Agnodice
What happened during Agnodice’s trial?
- She exposed herself as a woman
- She was then accused of deceit and practicing medicine against the law, meaning she would have been sentenced to death
- Her female patients spoke out against their husbands, and the law was then changed to allow female doctors
What was the senate?
An advisory group that met to discuss and offer advice on political matters to magistrates (an elected Roman politician)
What was the cursus honorum?
The ladder of political offices in Rome
Whats a Quaestor?
- 20 men
- managed Rome’s finances
What’s an Aedile?
- 4 men
- oversaw public services
Praetor?
- 8 men
- Ran law courts
Consul
- 2 men
- Co-heads of state
- In charge of military, political relations with other states, and passing laws
What did having consuls ensure and what happened in times of emergency?
- it ensured that one man didn’t have too much power
- In times of emergency, consuls could agree to appoint a dictator, who would have total authority for six months
How could Roman women have political influence?
By influencing male relatives, or just male politicians
Two examples of Roman women having political power?
- Praeccia, who was very influential in Rome
- ‘Cethegus did nothing except with Praeccia’s approval’ - Plutarch
- Fabia indirectly got the law changed, allowing Plebeian men to apply for consulship
- This happened because she was jealous of her sister’s Patrician husband who was consul, so her Father appealed for the law to be changed
Why was the Roman Oppian Law introduced?
- In 215 BC, Rome was engaged in a war with Carthage, that led to huge financial strain
- Consuls passed a law requiring Roman men to contribute gold and silver from their wive’s jewellery to the city’s Treasury so they could rebuild their army
-The law also banned women from showing wealth
What did Roman women do about the Oppian Law?
- 20 years on, the law still existed
- A crowd of matronae blocked the streets around the forum
- They appeared to hold a multi-day large scale protest
What were the two arguments surrounding the Oppian Law?
- Roman husbands were accused of failing to keep a tight watch on their wives, and that women should quietly accept the law.
- Those against the law reminded the Senate that women willingly gave up their jewellery when the law was passed, and that they too should be allowed to enjoy the wealth that had been won in the war
Who was Catiline?
- A Roman man from a wealthy family
- However, he had failed in running for Consulship many times, and was close to bankruptancy
What did Catiline do?
- With support from some noblemen, and some sections of the military, he came up with a plan to overthrow the Republic and take power for himself
What did Catiline promise?
- To cancel all debt
- This was appealing to his followers as many were in similar financial situations to him
Who was Sempronia?
- The wife of a prominent senator, Decimus Junius Brutus, who had been consul
- She was from a wealthy family, and was highly accomplished- she knew Greek and Roman literature, could sing, play music and dance
What did women in Catilines conspiracy do?
- Helped Catiline win the support of their slaves and husbands
- Women may have even been told to murder their husbands if they didn’t comply
What happened to Sempronia after the plot failed?
- She was never punished
- Roman law didn’t recognise women as being able to commit treason
What was the Assembly?
- Central institution of Athenian system of democracy
- All male citizens were eligible to attend and vote in the assembly
What was the Boule?
- A council of 500 Athenian citizens who decided what issues would be discussed in the Assmebly
