While ancient Athens might have been the birthplace of democracy—and the home of many a great playwright, philosopher, and poet—it was ancient Rome that had the far more successful economy. And this was in large part because the Romans had a far more favorable attitude to both business and to women. Not only did Roman women own ships and shops—and trade their wine and olive oil across the Mediterranean—they also helped to build the ancient city itself. A third of the clay beds that supplied the capital's br ...