Roman Women
Published in 1962, Roman Women by J.P.V.D. Baldson chronicles the "history and habits" of women in ancient Rome from the Republic to the Christian era. Touted on the book jacket as "the first time that a book has been published in any language" that portrays the individuality and lifestyle of Roman women of all classes, Baldson's work is both scholarly and seminal. Because history is too often told by and for males, this book, although penned by a man itself, is nevertheless invaluable in completing the historiography of one of the most important empires in world history. Baldson's book encompasses the time period from the legendary founding of Rome until Constantine's transformation of Rome into the Holy Roman Empire. This work picks up where other histories leave off: at depicting the common, political, and spiritual lives of the other half of the human race. To complete his study, Baldson draws upon primary sources that include Roman poetry and literature as well as actual epitaphs. The general time period covered spans the eighth century BCE until the fourth century CE. Baldson investigates the domain of women, which was often demarked by their roles as homemakers as opposed to politicians, Empresses who remained behind the scenes and who were yet extremely influential. Therefore, Roman Women adds to a comprehensive history of the Roman Empire as well as to human history in general.
Because so many historiographies focus on battles and their political consequences, the role...
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