Looks at world change from ancient times, with reference to premodern women, male-female relations, sexuality and social constructions of gender. Emphasis will be placed upon patterns of change from prehistory through to modernity but with the recognition that even 'revolutionary' change has not necessarily involved progress for women. Topics include: androcentric periodizations of history; debates about early 'matriarchies'; patriarchal controls placed upon women, their sexuality and fertility; different social constructs of feminine and masculine roles and identity; and the importance of culture and class in determining social roles, male-female relations and differences between women.

By the end of this course it is hoped that students will have developed a more critical and sophisticated understanding of women's social situation, globally and historically. The course seeks to encourage in students an awareness of how this has differed markedly in different types of societies or communities (settled as opposed to nomadic, for example, agricultural versus foraging or herding) and geographic or cultural areas; and also changed over time under the impact of various factors (for example, new religions and colonial domination).