LiteratureDiversified

During the Roman Republic, women and slaves were mistreated and were not considered citizens. Women had rights but were limited in their actions and ownership, and their rights depended on their placement in Rome's class system. Slaves were not allowed to receive an education, affecting their legacy, for they could not write anything for future generations. A woman's primary role during the Roman Republic was to be a mother/wife. Enslaved people had almost no rights, and they were forced to work the grimiest jobs in Roman society. Despite the oppression women and slaves faced, they had a significant impact on Roman society. Women and enslaved people comprised a large percentage of Rome's population, and they were essential to building and sustaining Rome's economy. Without slaves, many important jobs, especially in the agricultural and engineering world, would not have been completed. While slaves were essential to everyday work in the Roman Republic, women ran their households, managed children, worked in the house, and handled daily affairs to sustain their family's living standards.

Review Sources:

• Slaves and Freemen in the Roman Empire

• Women in Ancient Rome Didn’t Have Equal Rights. They Still Changed History 

• What Role Did Women Play in Ancient Rome? 

• Roman Women

• The Life of Roman Women during the Roman Empire 

• Feminae Romanae: The Role of Women in Ancient Rome 

• Women and Property 

• The Shift in Women’s Rights During the Augustan Age 

• What It Was Like to Be a Roman Slave (YouTube Video) 

• Slavery in Ancient Rome 

• Roman Slavery: The Daily Life of a Roman Slave

Review Questions

• How did women’s lack of political involvement still help women influence/change the world?

• How did a slave educator work? What were the benefits of being a slave educator?

• What cruel rituals were performed on female slaves, and how were female slaves mistreated by powerful groups and individuals?

• After slaves were freed, what challenges did they endure?