Women in Late Antiquity: Pagan and Christian Lifestyles

Women have been overlooked or even completely ignored throughout centuries of history. In many college courses, women do not have a voice. This lack is based on the assumption that the thoughts and activities of women were not important enough to write down and save for future generations. In her book, Women in Late Antiquity: Pagan and Christian Life-Styles, author Gillian Clark attempts to fill part of this gap in the history of women. There are problems involved in research for a book such as this. Clark found extremely few written records of any type available that were actually written by women. Educated white males that mention women have written the available sources. This leaves us with a bias against women because of the prevailing beliefs of the period. Unfortunately Gillian Clark had to piece together a great deal of history in what she refers to as a "patchwork" because of the lack of primary sources. Using resources in a manner for which they were never intended must be extremely difficult, but Gillian Clark has done an excellent job doing just that. The purpose of her book is addressed in the first paragraph of her introduction. "The aim . . . is to give some basic information on women's lives in late antiquity, and to make a start on answering some basic questions: to what extent could women choose what to do? What social, practical, or legal constraints limited their choices? What options were available besides (or within) marriage and housekeeping? What was housekeeping like? What level of education or of health care was available? What conduct and ideals were women taught to admire? Clark introduction)" The sixth century AD is the time period which Gillian Clark uses as her cut off. She feels that she just does not have enough knowledge to go beyond what she calls the "beginning of the end of classical antiquity" (p. 5). Gillian Clark's book is an excellent source which will benefit those who are interested, not only, in the history of women, but also, those who are interested in some possible explanations for modern-day hostility against women by men. Gillian Clark has her book, Women in Late Antiquity: Pagan and Christian Life-Styles, arranged topically in five chapters for the sake of clarity. Chapter topics are: Law and Morality; Tolerance, Prohibition, and Protection; Health; Domesticity and Asceticism; and Being Female. While each chapter deals with a specific topic, each overlaps in information. The laws for women explain the double-standard which has existed since the beginning of time for both men and women. A woman could be killed for adultery, but not the man she was with. It was not acceptable for a woman to bring a lawsuit against anyone. ". . . women should not have the power to bring a public criminal charge except for specific causes, . . . . It is not right for women to have the power of making an accusation on every manner . . . . Advocates . . . be warned that they must not, for pro

This book is a fascinating look into women's lives in late antiquity. It goes into great detail about health (medicine), marriage, inheritance, household duties, and pregnancy as well as such topics as the different rights women had in the past. What I really loved about this book was that it wasn't a feminist reading about all the injustices put upon women. The author gives clear facts which you can formulate your own opinion on. It was very informative and I would highly recommend it.