Comparative Roles of Women in Rome and Han China
Comparative Roles of Women in Rome and Han China
This video uses a speech by an elite Roman patrician and the writing of an elite Han historian—both women—to compare the lives of women in ancient Rome and China.
Key Ideas
As this video progresses, key ideas will be introduced to invoke discussion.
Key Ideas
Think about the following questions as you watch the video
- 02:09 What were the arguments that Hortensia used against the triumvirate’s taxes?
- 05:20 What was it specifically about this war that made Hortensia unwilling to pay for it?
- 06:19 How does the video use this speech as evidence of how Roman women’s role in politics compared with other societies?
- 08:04 How does Ban Zhao’s writing differ from Hortensia’s speech?
- 09:33 How does Ban Zhao’s writing challenge the arguments that Ban Zhao herself was making?