Women and Money through the Ages


If you look back to Tuesday February 13, 2018, you will see that I am discussing the history of women and money. Today, we continue.

Next, we move into ancient Rome. The Romans were more liberal than the Greeks were. This culture allowed women divorce, hold property and inherit. Divorces were easy to get and men had the legal right to retain custody of children.


In 565 AD, the Byzantine empire, Justinian laws allowed women to be married without a dowry though there were pre-nuptial gifts which, if a woman cheated on her husband, the man was allowed to divorce her and keep the gifts. He was also entitled to keep the dowry, if there was one, and a third of any property she possessed! Some working women, such as prostitutes and tavern-owners, did not have the right to marry Roman citizens and Roman men could only keep them as concubines.

Emperor Justinian’s wife, Empress Theodora – a former actress and wool spinner – left her jobs when the Emperor started to court her. She apparently influenced him to expand property and divorce rights for women.


AD1600s, in the Middle East. Islam is founded in Arabia and women are allowed the right to inherit estates, own property and initiate divorces. As in Jewish law, the eldest son received double the inheritance when a parent died. Men could inherit half the wife’s estate unless there was a child then he would get 25%.

Next, we go to the 800ADS and Europe. Here Anglo-Saxon laws allow women to own property before and after marriage. In Norse societies, women conduct business as equals with men.


Fast forward a few centuries to the 1100s in England. English common law – a combination of Anglo- Saxon and Norman traditions lead to the creation of coverture. Coverture is the belief that married men and women are one financial entity. Because of this, women could not own property, run taverns or stores or sue in court. Widows and unmarried women though could enjoy those rights. Over time, the theory of coverture distorted the view that women are owned by their husbands.


So that’s it for today. We’ll see you next week for more on women’s history with money.


Do you want to learn the 5-Step process I used to save myself over $400,000.00 in future credit card interest charges? Then watch this video to learn more about the 7 Days Towards Financial Stability Challenge free on Facebook. Click here: https://karenmagill_0.gr8.com/

Thanks to https://www.theguardian.com/money/us-money-blog/2014/aug/11/women-rights-money-timeline-history for the above information. 

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