What does The Histories tell us about gender roles in this time period? Note: gender roles means the roles that both men and women play in society. You can write about male or female gender roles, or both.
After your introductory paragraph, the remainder of the essay should use evidence to prove the thesis. Use specific textual evidence to prove your thesis—not personal opinion or general statements. If you find yourself using statements like, “I think _____,” or “I believe ______,” then you have likely strayed from the historical evidence into opinion. A historical essay is about what you can prove, not what you believe.
For each evidence paragraph, ask yourself the following questions:
How does this paragraph help to support my thesis?
Is there specific evidence from the text in this paragraph?
If there is no specific evidence in the paragraph, with a citation, then you should think about reorganizing. If your evidence doesn’t support your thesis, or if you haven’t explained to your reader how that evidence supports your thesis, then you need to make some changes.
Unless you have obtained permission well before the due date, the only source you should use for this paper are the portions of the Herodotus text that you were assigned to read for this course.
In addition:
You should only use material from the text itself—you should never include quotes from the editor or translator’s introduction to the text.
You should not use material that you learned in high school or in any other course unless you can support your point with specific evidence from The Histories.
You should not use material obtained on the internet or from any outside sources.
Please cite by book and section number, and NOT by page number. (If you aren’t sure what this means, look at the reading schedule)
Examples: (note the position of the punctuation marks as well)
Croesus “sent messengers to Sparta with presents,” writes Herodotus (I.69).
Herodotus notes that “next to the Libyans [the Egyptians] are the healthiest people in the world” (II.77).
Herodotus readings, listed below:
Lesson 11: Book I, sections 1-92
Lesson 12: Book I, sections 93-216
Lesson 14: Book II, sections 1-99
Lesson 15: Book III, sections 61-117; Book IV, sections 1-82, 168-205; Book VI, sections 94-140
Lesson 18: Book VII sections 1-59, 201-239; Book VIII, sections 40-120; Book IX, sections 1-89
Your paper should include a clear, strong, and sophisticated thesis. The thesis should be clearly stated in the first paragraph of the paper; by the time I finish reading the first paragraph I should be able to answer the question, “This essay argues that _____.” (You can even use that exact phrasing in your introduction if you wish.)
A sophisticated thesis is the most important element needed to produce an excellent paper. Without a good thesis, the paper will simply be a summary—or what you might have called a “report” in high school.
Here are some things to think about when constructing a thesis.
A thesis:
Should NOT be a topic or a question (or simply repeat the assigned topic or question)
Should be arguable
Should provide a unique perspective
Should be supportable—rooted in evidence
Should be narrow and specific
Should NOT be a list
possible quotes you could use but not all:
Lesson 11: Book I, sections 1-92
Pull Quote: “Among the Thracians, a custom is for the women to fight in armor, and the men to stay home and do the weaving.” (I.217)
Argument: This quote highlights the reversal of traditional gender roles among the Thracians, where women are depicted as warriors while men engage in domestic tasks, challenging the norms of other ancient societies.
Lesson 12: Book I, sections 93-216
Pull Quote: “The Lycians bring their mothers to public assemblies and give them seats of honor, while the fathers stand around and listen to the debates.” (I.173)
Argument: This quote illustrates a cultural practice among the Lycians that honors mothers and includes them in public affairs, potentially indicating a more inclusive role for women in decision-making compared to other societies.
Lesson 14: Book II, sections 1-99
Pull Quote: “The Colchians, in their way of living, resemble the Egyptians; and what I find to be the most honorable custom in both nations is that the women are dealers in wine, while the men stay at home and weave.” (II.3)
Argument: This quote highlights the similarity between the Colchians and Egyptians in their gender roles, with women engaged in trade and men in domestic tasks, suggesting a cultural norm that transcends geographical boundaries.
Lesson 15: Book III, sections 61-117; Book IV, sections 1-82, 168-205; Book VI, sections 94-140
Pull Quote: “The Sauromatae have a custom unlike any other; their women ride on horseback, just like the men, and dress in the same way, and they go out hunting with their husbands.” (IV.110)
Argument: This quote describes the gender equality in activities among the Sauromatae, where women participate in traditionally masculine activities like hunting and riding, indicating a different approach to gender roles compared to many other ancient societies.
Lesson 18: Book VII sections 1-59, 201-239; Book VIII, sections 40-120; Book IX, sections 1-89
Pull Quote: “The Spartans, unlike any other Greeks, entrust the women with the management of the household, while the men engage in public affairs.” (IX.11)
Argument: This quote highlights the unique gender roles in Sparta, where women are responsible for the household while men focus on public affairs and military training, indicating a distinct division of labor between the sexes in Spartan society.
These examples from “The Histories” offer a glimpse into the diversity of gender roles in different ancient societies, as observed and recorded by Herodotus.
