Greek Women

Aspasia and the Athens of Pericles provide a focus for Mitchell Carroll's account of women in ancient Greece. Drawing together historical discussion and biographical portraits, he considers women's influence on public events, intellectual life and the loyalties of families and communities. The opening presents Aspasia as a gifted speaker whose home attracted prominent Athenians, including Socrates. A chapter on her life places her within a city busy with philosophy, drama, art and political ambition.

Carroll also compares Athenian and Spartan women and recounts episodes of devotion to relatives and the state. His general introduction makes sweeping claims about women's character, love and influence, giving the account a strongly argumentative voice. Readers interested in ancient history can follow its portraits of influential women while examining the assumptions through which the author interprets their lives. The combination of individual examples and broad claims offers material for thinking about how histories of women are written.