Jane F. Gardner

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+44 (0) 118 378 8420
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Roman Historian - retired
Areas of interest
I am aware of the enormous value of Roman law as a source for Roman social history. My research interests include the Roman family, women in Roman society, the legal status of the individual, Roman property and inheritance, Roman business life, and the role of slaves and freedmen in Roman society.
I am perhaps best known for three monographs: Women in Roman Law and Society (1986), a study of the legal and social situation of Roman women, Being a Roman Citizen (1993), concerning the differences between the legal rights of different groups in Roman society, and Family and Familia in Roman Law and Life (1998), which addresses the relationship between the legal institution of the Roman familia, and the realities of Roman family life.
I also published two widely used Penguin Classics translations, Julius Caesar's Civil War (1967) and a revised edition of S.A.Handford's The Conquest of Gaul (1982).
Teaching
I have no formal undergraduate or postgraduate teaching commitments, but am always very willing to help both staff and students at all levels with advice and information, especially, though not exclusively, on any topic related to my research interests and publications.
Background
From 1961–63 I lectured in Greek and Roman History at University College, Cardiff, then spent two years teaching in Forest Fields Grammar School, Nottingham.
I first came to Reading in 1963, where I was part-time Lecturer in the University's Department of Classics. I was appointed Assistant Lecturer in 1964, Lecturer in 1966, Senior Lecturer in 1988 and Professor of Ancient History in 1993, and held a Leverhulme Trust Research fellowship, 1995–96.
For 16 years (1976–92) I was also Curator of the Department's Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology.
Shortly before my retirement in 1999, I was awarded a D. Litt. by the University of Oxford for my three books on Roman social and legal history (see below).
External appointments:
I taught Classics and English in Forest Fields Grammar School, Nottingham, 1961–63,and Classics (temporary contract) at Kendrick Girls School, Reading, 1963–64. From 1979–81, I was a volunteer teacher of Greek and Classical Studies one evening weekly at Working Men's College, Camden, London.
After retirement, I was Special Professor in the School of Humanities, Classics Department at the University of Nottingham (1999–2002) , helping in particular with the development of the centre for research into the history of slavery.
Academic qualifications
I have an MA in Classics (first class honours) from Glasgow (1955) and a double first in Literae Humaniores from Oxford, BA1959 (MA 1962), where I was Joan Ashdown Scholar at Lady Margaret Hall.
Publications
- Gardner, J. (2011) Slavery and Roman law. In: Bradley, K. and Cartledge, P. , (eds.) The Cambridge World History of Slavery . , 1. Cambridge University Press , Cambridge and New York. pp. 414-437. ISBN: 9780521840668
- Gardner, J. (2011) Roman 'horror' of intestacy?. In: Rawson, B. , (eds.) A companion to families in the Greek and Roman worlds. Wiley-Blackwell , Chichester, UK. pp. 361-376. ISBN: 9781405187671
- Gardner, J. (2009) Women: the position of women and equality in Ancient Rome. In: Katz, S. , (eds.) The Oxford international encyclopedia of legal history. , 5. Oxford University Press , Oxford. pp. 117-120. ISBN: 9780195134056
- Gardner, J. (2009) Slavery: Roman law. In: Katz, S. , (eds.) The Oxford international encyclopedia of legal history. , 5. Oxford University Press , Oxford. pp. 247-250. ISBN: 9780195134056
- Gardner, J. (2009) Roman citizenship and latinitas. In: Katz, S. , (eds.) The Oxford international encyclopedia of legal history. , 5. Oxford University Press , Oxford. pp. 137-140. ISBN: 9780195134056
- Gardner, J. (2009) The dictator. In: Griffin, M. , (eds.) A companion to Julius Caesar. Blackwell companions to the ancient world series Wiley-Blackwell , Oxford. pp. 57-71. ISBN: 9781405149235
- Gardner, J. (2003) Social legislation. In: Cooley, . , (eds.) The age of Augustus. , 17. London Association of Classical Teachers , London, UK. pp. 353-372. ISBN: 9780903625302
- Weidemann, T. and Gardner, J. , eds. (2002) Representing the Body of the Slave. Frank Cass ISBN: 714653519
- Gardner, J. (2001) Making citizens: the Operation of the Lex Irnitana. In: de Blois, L. , (eds.) Administration, Prosopography and appointment Policies in the Roman Empire. J.C.Gieben pp. 215-229.
- Gardner, J. (2001) Nearest and dearest: liability to inheritance tax in Roman families. In: Dixon, S. , (eds.) Childhood, Class and Kin in the Roman World. Routledge pp. 205-220.
- Gardner, J. (2001) Death, Taxes and Status in Pliny's Panegyricus. In: Cairns, J. and Robinson, O. , (eds.) Ancient Law, Comparative Law and Legal History. Hart Publishing pp. 51-60.
- Gardner, J. (2000) Status, Sentiment and Strategy in Roman Adoption. In: Corbier, M. , (eds.) Adoption et Fosterage. de Boccard pp. 63-79.
- Gardner, J. (1999) Women in Business Life: Some evidence from Puteoli. In: Setälä, P. , (eds.) Female Networks and the Public Sphere in Roman Society, Acta Instituti Romani Finlandiae. , XXII. Institutum Romanum Finlandiae pp. 11-27.
- Gardner, J. (1999) Sexing a Roman: Imperfect Men in Roman Law. In: Foxhall, L. and Salmon, J. , (eds.) When Men were men: Masculinity, Power and Identity in Classical Antiquity. Routledge pp. 136-152.
- Gardner, J. (1998) Family and Familia in Roman Law and Life. Clarendon Press ISBN: 198152175
- Gardner, J. (1997) Legal Stumbling-Blocks for Lower-Class Families in Rome. In: Rawson, B. and Weaver, P. , (eds.) The Roman Family: Status, Sentiment and Space. Oxford University Press pp. 35-54.
- Gardner, J. (1996) Hadrian and the Social Legacy of Augustus. Labeo , 42 pp. 83-100.
- Gardner, J. (1995) Gender-role Assumptions in Roman Law. EMC/Classical Views , 39 (14).
- Gardner, J. (1993) Roman Myths. British Museum Press
- Gardner, J. (1993) Being a Roman Citizen. Routledge
- Gardner, J. (1992) Married Life in Classical Athens. Sociology and Human Affairs , 56 pp. 7-16.
- Gardner, J. (1991) The Purpose of the Lex Fufia Caninia. Echos du Monde Classique/ Classical Views , 35 pp. 21-39.
- Gardner, J. and Weidemann, T. (1991) The Roman Household: a sourcebook. Routledge
- Gardner, J. (1989) The Adoption of the Roman Freedman. Phoenix , 43 pp. 236-257. ISSN: 0031-8299
- Gardner, J. (1989) Aristophanes and Male Anxiety - the Defence of the Oikos. Greece and Rome , 36 pp. 51-62. ISSN: 0017-3835
- Gardner, J. (1989) Julia's Freedmen - Questions of Law and Status. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies , 35 pp. 94-100.
- Gardner, J. (1988) Proofs of Status in the Roman World. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies , 33 pp. 1-14.
- Gardner, J. (1987) Another Family and an Inheritance. Liverpool Classical Monthly , 12 pp. 52-54.
- Gardner, J. (1986) Women in Roman Law and Society. Croom Helm
- Gardner, J. (1985) Trade in the Classical Greek World. In: Talbert, R. , (eds.) Atlas of Classical History. Croom Helm pp. 51-53.
- Gardner, J. (1985) The Recovery of Dowry in Roman Law. Classical Quarterly , 35 pp. 449-453. ISSN: 0009-8388
- Gardner, J. (1984) A Family and an Inheritance: the problems of the Widow Petronilla. Liverpool Classical Monthly , 9 pp. 132-133.
- Gardner, J. (1983) The 'Gallic Menace' in Caesar's Propaganda. Greece and Rome , 30 pp. 181-189. ISSN: 0017-3835
- Gardner, J. (1982) Caesar: The conquest of Gaul. Penguin Books
- Gardner, J. and Bolton, W. , eds. (1973) Ben Jonson's Catiline. University of Nebraska Press
- Gardner, J. (1968) Consolatory Letters in Basil and Gregory Nazianzen. Hermes , 96 pp. 299-318. ISSN: 0018-0777
- Gardner, J. (1967) A consolatio of the patriarch Nicholas Mysticus - further remarks. Byzantion , 37 pp. 136-142. ISSN: 0378-2506
- Gardner, J. (1967) Caesar, the Civil War, together with the Alexandrian War, the African War and the Spanish War, by other hands. Penguin Books
- Gardner, J. (1966) The Torquati. Historia , 15 pp. 23-31. ISSN: 0118-2311