In this thesis I have endeavoured to throw light on both the private and public aspect of the lives of women
living in the Roman African provinces from the first century BC to the seventh century AD. Funerary
inscriptions reveal that the role of women in private life was projected in a manner which reflected the ideals
for Roman womanhood (pudicitia, castilas,fides and fecunditas), even when they clearly came of Afro~Punic
stock. In terms of the quality of their lives Roman African women of the propertied status groups (about whom
we know the most) had a good standard of living compared to other parts of the Roman Empire, and for example
were well~educated in the urbanized areas compared to provinces such as Gaul. Roman African women of the
elite also enjoyed a degree of autonomy enhanced by the increased financial independence granted to them in
terms of Roman law, which enabled them to function as benefactors in their communities in the same way as
their male counterparts, donating money for temples, baths and markets. In return for this they were duly
recognized in honorary inscriptions by their communities. Although this public role may appear to be in conflict
with the 'ideal' domestic or private role of the Roman matron, this activity was sanctioned by the fact that they
were acting in the interests of male family members who were engaged in municipal careers. In the 2nd and 3rd
centuries there are a few signs that women were beginning to act more in their own interests, but much of their
public role faded with the increasing dominance of the Christian Church which prescribed a more limited role
for women. The only exceptions occurred in the times of persecution through the temporary prominence gained
by women as martyrs and confessors, although this prominence cannot be said to have advantaged women in
general. During the Vandal and Byzantine period we know of only a few women, primarily those with
connections to the elite at Rome and Constantinople, who acted with the independence and authority of their class. / History / D.Litt. et Phil. (Ancient History)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/745 |
| Date | 30 November 2002 |
| Creators | De Marre, Martine Elizabeth Agnès |
| Contributors | Hendrickx, B. C. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (xv, 409 leaves) |
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