Ancient Egypt:
- Queens: Pharaoh's wife, held significant power and influence. Ex: Hatshepsut, Nefertari.
- Priestesses: Served in religious rituals and ceremonies.
- Scribes: A few educated women worked as scribes, copying texts.
- Healers: Some women were involved in medicine and childbirth care.
- Weavers: Women were responsible for weaving textiles and garments.
Ancient Greece:
- Wives and Mothers: Women's primary role was to manage households and raise children.
- Hetaerae (Courtesans): Educated, independent women who engaged in intellectual discussions and provided companionship to men.
- Priestesses: Certain cults and temples allowed women to serve as priestesses.
- Spartan Women: Known for their physical training and contributions to Sparta's military society.
Ancient Rome:
- Matronae: Respected married women who held influential positions within the family.
- Vestals: Virgin priestesses dedicated to serving the goddess Vesta and maintaining sacred fires.
- Empresses: The wives of emperors often had significant political and cultural influence.
- Gladiatrices (Female Gladiators): A rare sight, but some women participated in gladiator fights.
- Businesswomen: A few women engaged in trade and commerce, owning and managing businesses.
Ancient India (Vedic Period):
- Rigveda Poetesses: Women poets composed hymns in the Rigveda, an important Hindu text.
- Queens and Rulers: A few women ruled as queens and held positions of power.
- Grihapatnis (Housewives): Women were central to household management and religious rituals.
- Devadasis: Temple dancers dedicated to serving deities, often beginning at a young age.
Ancient China:
- Empresses and Concubines: Some empresses held significant political influence, while others were primarily wives and mothers.
- Scholars and Intellectuals: A small number of women achieved recognition for their literary, philosophical, or artistic talents.
- Footbinding: From the Song dynasty onward, footbinding became a common practice among elite women.
- Matchmakers: Women could serve as professional matchmakers, arranging marriages for families.
It is important to note that these roles and opportunities for women varied within each civilization and over time, and experiences could differ greatly based on social class, ethnicity, and individual circumstances.