Roman Women by Balsdon: Life and History of Women in Rome

Introduction to Roman Women and Its Scope

Published in 1962, Roman Women by J.P.V.D. Balsdon chronicles the "history and habits" of women in ancient Rome from the Republic to the Christian era. Touted on the book jacket as "the first time that a book has been published in any language" that portrays the individuality and lifestyle of Roman women of all classes, Balsdon's work is both scholarly and seminal. Because history is too often told by and for males, this book — although penned by a man — is nevertheless invaluable in completing the historiography of one of the most important empires in world history.

Balsdon's book encompasses the time period from the legendary founding of Rome until Constantine's transformation of Rome into the Holy Roman Empire. This work picks up where other histories leave off: depicting the common, political, and spiritual lives of the other half of the human race. To complete his study, Balsdon draws upon primary sources that include Roman poetry and literature as well as actual epitaphs. The general time period covered spans the eighth century BCE until the fourth century CE. Balsdon investigates the domain of women, which was often demarcated by their roles as homemakers rather than politicians — Empresses who remained behind the scenes yet were extremely influential. Therefore, Roman Women adds to a comprehensive history of the Roman Empire as well as to human history in general.

The Significance of Women in Roman Historiography

Because so many historiographies focus on battles and their political consequences, the role of women in history is often overlooked. Balsdon shows that Roman women, while they may not have led the front lines in battle or headed the Republic as queen, were nevertheless as significant in shaping history as Roman men were. Any history of Roman women must take into account the basic daily lives of people — lives that may often seem routine or inconsequential but that have far more direct relevance to our own existence. After all, most people operate behind the scenes or live ordinary lives, not those of emperors.

Balsdon's Thesis and Treatment of Roman Women

Balsdon writes his history to draw attention to the forgotten sex, and he also appears genuinely fascinated by Roman women in particular. In the Introduction, for instance, the author claims that Roman women had "their own peculiar magic," which literally endowed them with the powers of a priestess (14). Moreover, Balsdon notes that the power of Roman women lies in their very biology: their ability to bear children and thereby transfer their genes from generation to generation endows women with a peculiar power that fascinates people across all times and places.

Finally, Balsdon sets out to assert that Roman women were feminist prototypes: they "emancipated themselves. They acquired liberty...they enjoyed unrestrained license" (14–15). However, for Balsdon, the power that Roman women enjoyed was primarily sexual in nature. Roman women, like women even in modern societies, rarely enjoyed the same kind of political or economic power that their male counterparts did. Balsdon sets out to show that Roman women were and still are grossly overlooked; he succeeds insofar as his source material allows him to.