Humanities Discussion Post

Women in Ancient Society

An eminent historian (Gerda Lerner) claims that “class [in ancientsociety] was constructed out of gender relations which advantaged men.”

Search the Internet

To get a better understanding of the women’s roles in the earliest civilizations, do some research.

Rights of Women in Ancient Egypt Were Ancient Egyptians the First Feminists? Women’s Rights in Mesopotamia

Respond in writing to the following questions after exploring the internet sites above.

1. Isthis (the opening statement about class) evident in Hammurabi’s Code?What does Hammurabi’s Code tell us about women in ancient Babylon?
2. How did the political and social roles of women in Egypt differ from those of other ancient societies?
3. To what extent does Lerner’s generalization from above apply for our own day and age?