Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

Sydney, Lady Morgan (?1783 1859) is best remembered as a novelist whose highly successful historical romances often dealt with sexual, religious and racial discrimination. This work, published in 1840, examines the role of women in history. Morgan originally planned to write four volumes, but owing to her ill health only the first two, focusing on the Old Testament and classical civilization, were completed. Morgan proposes the view that women were really the dominant sex that shaped human society. She criticizes the legal discrimination against women that persists even in an age when superiority is no longer defined by physical strength. In Volume 1 she focuses on 'savage' and 'semi-civilized' peoples, and examples of societies as described in the Old Testament. Morgan writes vividly and passionately about the indignities to which women are subjected by men. For more information on this author, see http: //orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=morgsy

Sydney, Lady Morgan (?1783 1859) is best remembered as a novelist whose highly successful historical romances often dealt with sexual, religious and racial discrimination. This work, published in 1840, examines the role of women in history. Morgan originally planned to write four volumes, but owing to her ill health only the first two, focusing on the Old Testament and classical civilization, were completed. Morgan proposes the view that women were really the dominant sex that shaped human society. She criticizes the legal discrimination against women that persists even in an age when superiority is no longer defined by sheer physical strength. In Volume 2 she focuses on examples from classical times, particularly some of the most influential Roman empresses. Morgan writes vividly and passionately about the indignities to which women were and are subjected by men. For more information on this author, see http: //orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=morgsy