What is it about?
Georgia Tsouvala and Lee L. Brice argue that warfare in the ancient world was never exclusively male and explore the diverse roles women played in military contexts. The authors critique ancient and modern historiographical biases that marginalized women’s contributions, emphasizing that women were active as military leaders, logistical and medical supporters, cultural transmitters, and religious participants, while also suffering victimization through violence, enslavement, and economic hardship. Key themes include the fluidity of gender roles during crises, the invisibility of women’s labor in sources, the symbolic and practical power of elite women, and the importance of commemoration and cultural memory. The chapter calls for further research into overlooked areas such as women’s logistical and financial support, religious roles, and experiences traveling with armies, highlighting that recognizing these contributions enriches our understanding of ancient societies and challenges traditional narratives of war.
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Why is it important?
The chapter calls for further research into overlooked areas such as women’s logistical and financial support, religious roles, and experiences traveling with armies, highlighting that recognizing these contributions enriches our understanding of ancient societies and challenges traditional narratives of war.
Perspectives
I hope this chapter brings the Greco-Roman history of war to life by including the 51% of the population that has been neglected for far too long.
Georgia Tsouvala
Illinois State University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Women and Armed Conflict: Never Just a Man’s World, November 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004749368_029.
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