Review by Choice Review
Clark examines various aspects of women's daily lives during "late antiquity," from the third to the sixth century CE. By so doing, she supplements the studies of Greco-Roman antiquity that stop somewhere around the late third century. The reader needs a persuasive discussion of what it means to be "pagan" and Christian at the very start, but Clark's overall approach is useful, particularly with her reminder of the nature and shortcomings of the evidence, most of which was written by men uninterested in women's lives. Clark also hints at continuities from "pagan" to Christian experience. Topics range from health, sexuality, marriage, and inheritance to asceticism and housekeeping. As with nearly all general discussions of women's lives in the ancient world, Clark says little about old women beyond suggesting the age of menopause. The depth of analysis varies, but invaluable citations of primary sources (particularly from Roman law) support every observation. The bibliography includes some useful citations, but the few black-and-white illustrations add nothing. Undergraduate and above. J. de Luce; Miami University (OH)
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
