Comparing gender systems: Based on these documents, how might you compare the gender systems of China, India, and the Roman Empire? What common features of patriarchy did they share? In what ways did they differ?
Evaluating the possibilities of action for women: In what ways were women able to challenge at least some elements of their societies? Do these documents exhibit anything similar to the feminist thinking or action of our own times?
Internalizing social values: To what extent did women in these civilizations internalize or accept the patriarchal values of their societies? Why might they have done so?
Making judgments: If you were a woman living during these times, which of these civilizations would you prefer to live in and why? Do you think this kind of question—judging the past by the standards of the present—is a valid approach to historical inquiry?