Women´s Life in Ancient India

• There were priests, warriors, craftsmen, ordinary people, and slaves. (Dalal, 81)• Because of emperors having more than one wife, it created jealousy within the royal household. (41)• Women didn’t have an easy life in ancient India. (Ali, 40)

Social Structure in Ancient India

Women's Life in Ancient India

Bibliography- Ali, Daud. Find out about Ancient India. London: Southwater, 2003. Print.- Dalal, Anita. National Geographic Investigates Ancient India: Archaeology Unlocks the Secrets of India's past. Washington: National Geographic,2007.- Schomp, Virginia. Ancient India [pbk]. New York: Franklin Watts, 2005. Print.- raupadi_and_Pandavas.jpg- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/ d/df/Styles_of_Sari.jpg- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ commons/0/02/Une_mari%C3%A9e_hindoue_ %C3%A0_Khajuraho_(8470847475).jpg- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_(polity)- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Caste_system_in_India

Women’s life in India was hard, but had more rights than other ancient civilizations. For almost 2000 years in Indian art and literature, women ideally have had long hair, almond-shaped eyes, a sweet bird-like voice, and a shy manner. (Ali, 40) They also covered their hair with their saris. Women from rich families were symbols of a men’s wealth, for it showed that the man had enough money to take care of his wives. Among Muslims, women had to dress modest and some were not even allowed to go outside at all. (41) While boys studied with their teacher, a tutor at home educated their sisters. Girls learned literature, painting, singing, dancing, and other arts from their tutor. Their mothers taught them how to cook, weave, and managing servants if they were rich. The girls married at the age of 16. The personal goods the wife had brought into her marriage remained as her property and she could pass the goods on to her daughters. (Schomp, 46-49) Women were responsible for the household work and other works they had. (Ali, 41) Rarely, queens became leaders. (40)

• The great majority of Indians were peasant farmers. (Schomp, 50)• Slaves could buy their freedom with money. (81)