The role of women in Ancient times was very limited. In places such as Greece and Rome women were expected to have children and be housewives. In some cases such as the role of women in Sparta, women were able to be physically trained like the men, own land, and be able to drink wine. These privileges almost everywhere else were strictly available to only the men. If women were allowed to have jobs most of them would either work in shops or were prostitutes. Men saw women as property and did not allow them to partake in anything that they did not think women could handle.
Middle Ages
Renaissance and Reformation
Women roles during the Middle Ages was much similar to the ones in Ancient Times. Women were still very much expected to have children and be stay at home moms. Poorer families in the Middle Ages needed the mother to be able to keep the house clean and be able to do all of the chores in a very small space. Wealthier families would have servants do all of the house work and chores, all the mother had to do was handle the children. In some cases with wealthier families the women could take up hobbies and even learn how to read and write. Religion in the Middle Ages was very prominent and growing everyday. In some areas women were able to enter convents and practice their religion. In the later Middle Ages some rights for women in the Convents were taken away and made most independent convents be placed under the control of the church officials.
Age of Absolutism
The Renaissance and Reformation was the first time women were seen as leaders and almost as powerful as men. Many women in this time period would serve as monarchs and prove to the people women were just as capable as men of ruling a country. Queen Elizabeth is just one of the examples of a women as a leader during this era and would become one of the harshest rulers during the Renaissance. Even though some women were lucky enough to become monarchs, in lots of areas women were still seen as they were in Ancient Times and in the Middle Ages. They were seen as house wives and not able to have their own career choices. This time period was a big turning point for women and helped lead to the way women are treated to this day. Another big role for women in this era was as artists. Many women artists were afraid to show their work due to the fear of society. For the few women who did show off their talent and amazing art, had become famous and helped other women who were afraid to show their art come out and show society women were capable of creating magnificent art just like men had.
The Enlightenment
Flatford Mill (Scene on a Navigable River) is an oil painting by English artist John Constable, painted in 1816. It is Constable's largest exhibition canvas to be painted mainly outdoors, the first of his large "six-foot" paintings [more]
The Age of Revolutions
The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up, 1838 is an oil painting by the English artist J. M. W. Turner. HMS Temeraire was one of the last second-rate ships of the line to have played a distinguished role in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. [more]
WWI/WWII
Liberty Leading the People is a painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorating the July Revolution of 1830, which toppled King Charles X of France. [more]
The Interwar
The role of women in Ancient times was very limited. In places such as Greece and Rome women were expected to have children and be house wives. In some cases such as the role of women in Sparta, women were able to be physically trained like the men, own land, and be able to drink wine. These privileges almost everywhere else were strictly available to only the men. If women were allowed to have jobs most of them would either work in shops or were prostitutes.
Post World War II- Present
Women roles during the Middle Ages was much similar to the ones in Ancient Times. Women were still very much expected to have children and be stay at home moms. Poorer families in the Middle Ages needed the mother to be able to keep the house clean and be able to do all of the chores in a very small space. Wealthier families would have servants do all of the house work and chores, all the mother had to do was handle the children. In some cases with wealthier families the women could take up hobbies and even learn how to read and write. Religion in the Middle Ages was very prominent and growing everyday. In some areas women were able to enter convents and practice their religion. In the later Middle Ages some rights for women in the Convents were taken away and made most independent convents be placed under the control of the church officials.
