Question

Explain how the roles of

women in a typical patrician
and plebeian Roman family
were different. How did the
role of women change as the
Roman Republic became an
empire?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Patrician comes from the Latin word for “father.” Patrician women were in charge of the household but would not do the actual housework. Instead, enslaved people prepared the food, cleaned the house, made clothing, and tended the gardens. Otherwise plebeian women would have to do a majority of the housework, e.g. washing clothes, cooking, cleaning up..etc. Later life of plebeian women was just basically housework and teaching children (if they didn't have educated slaves to teach them) Defined by the men in their lives, women in ancient Rome were valued mainly as wives and mothers. Although some were allowed more freedom than others, there was always a limit, even for the daughter of an emperor.