The First Mothers of Iran

This chapter examines available evidence on the lives of prehistoric women from the earliest known sites of settlement, and the first semi-urban centers such as Susa or Shahr-e Sukhteh. It presents clues concerning women’s evolving roles in securing food, domesticating plants and animals, developing crafts, and building trade networks. The chapter also surveys women’s roles in rulership, religion, and economic life in Iran’s first major civilization of ElamElam. Finally, the chapter considers the tasks and arts of women in Iran’s ancient nomadic cultures, showing how the challenges of pastoral life forced certain divisions between the roles of women and men.