Women in power

Question 1

What happened in the Athenian assembly?

Answer 1

• Matters of political importance discussed and voted on
• A herald would introduce topics that had been decided on by the Boule

Question 2

Who was eligible to be part of the Assembly?

Answer 2

• Athenian citizen
• Over 18
• Have served in the military for at least 2 years
• Be male

Question 3

Who wrote Assemblywomen and what is its significance?

Answer 3

• Aristophanes
• a play depicting women being involved in politics

Question 4

Who does Assemblywomen centre around and what happens?

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

How does Praxigora compare to the other women?

Answer 5

She is bossy and commanding, whilst the other women are more concerned with gossip

Question 6

How do Praxigora and the women disguise themselves as men?

Answer 6

• Have a fake beard and male clothing
• Let their body hair grow
• Tanned outside in the sun

Question 7

What is Aristophanes really trying to say in Assembly women?

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

Who was Agnodice?

Answer 8

• The first recored female doctor and midwide

Question 9

What did Agnodice do to become a doctor?

Answer 9

• Trained as a physician in Egypt, and when she came back to Athens, she disguised herself as a man

Question 10

What did Athenian men do because of Agnodice?

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

What happened during Agnodice’s trial?

Answer 11

• 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

Question 12

What was the senate?

Answer 12

An advisory group that met to discuss and offer advice on political matters to magistrates (an elected Roman politician)

Question 13

What was the cursus honorum?

Answer 13

The ladder of political offices in Rome

Question 14

Whats a Quaestor?

Answer 14

• 20 men
• managed Rome’s finances

Question 15

What’s an Aedile?

Answer 15

• 4 men
• oversaw public services

Question 16

Praetor?

Answer 16

• 8 men
• Ran law courts

Question 17

Consul

Answer 17

• 2 men
• Co-heads of state
• In charge of military, political relations with other states, and passing laws

Question 18

What did having consuls ensure and what happened in times of emergency?

Answer 18

• 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

Question 19

How could Roman women have political influence?

Answer 19

By influencing male relatives, or just male politicians

Question 20

Two examples of Roman women having political power?

Answer 20

• 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

Question 21

Why was the Roman Oppian Law introduced?

Answer 21

• 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

Question 22

What did Roman women do about the Oppian Law?

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

What were the two arguments surrounding the Oppian Law?

Answer 23

• 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

Question 24

Who was Catiline?

Answer 24

• A Roman man from a wealthy family
• However, he had failed in running for Consulship many times, and was close to bankruptancy

Question 25

What did Catiline do?

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

What did Catiline promise?

Answer 26

• To cancel all debt
• This was appealing to his followers as many were in similar financial situations to him

Question 27

Who was Sempronia?

Answer 27

• 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

Question 28

What did women in Catilines conspiracy do?

Answer 28

• 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

Question 29

What happened to Sempronia after the plot failed?

Answer 29

• She was never punished
• Roman law didn’t recognise women as being able to commit treason

Question 30

What was the Assembly?

Answer 30

• Central institution of Athenian system of democracy
• All male citizens were eligible to attend and vote in the assembly

Question 31

What was the Boule?

Answer 31

• A council of 500 Athenian citizens who decided what issues would be discussed in the Assmebly