Women in Politics during the Julio - Claudian period of the Roman Empire

Abstract

The Roman Empire is believed to be a very powerful institution during the period. The Emperors in whose hands the power rested seemed the center of the government. However evidence is examined to evaluate the impact the women in their lives had on the rule through them. Most powerful Emperors came in to power, ruled and even faced death due to the women in their lives, as mothers, mistresses and sisters. Their popularity and their desire for recognition as well as popularity is looked in to through the available literary evidence as well as archeological evidence such as monuments, sculpture and coins.