The Status of the Roman Woman in the 1st Century AD

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to comprehensively investigate the status of Roman women in the 1st century AD based on the analysis of various historiographical literature. The methodology of the research is based on the principles of scientificity, objectivity, systematicity, historicism, interdisciplinary approach and also includes methods of analysis and synthesis. Each of them was effective in a specific situation. The use of scientific methodology provided an objective coverage of the mentioned issues. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that the author comprehensively examines the problem of the participation of Roman women in the social and political life of the state. In addition, the main measures of the socio-political sphere and the typology of roles inherent in women were analyzed based on the comparison of materials from various sources. Attention is focused on revealing the evaluative judgments of Roman authors, the attitude of Roman society both to the personalities of women and to their actions. Conclusions. In the 1st century Roman women not only raised their children, but were also ready to take an active part in the public and political life of the state alongside men. Roman women of noble status made their way into the male space of Roman politics and demanded recognition, equality and a leader. The most influential were the mothers of the emperors, and only then the wives. The emperor Caesar Augustus made unsuccessful attempts to limit women's activity by reviving traditional republican values, which were based on the idea of a woman as a wife and the continuation of the family, whose opportunities and duties would not go beyond the private sphere. During the period of the Principate, women connected to the imperial family gain leverage over political decision-making. Being involved in the imperial propaganda policy, they were able to acquire personal authority in Roman society