The treatment of women in post classical period often influenced the development and achievements of civilizations. There would be no The Tale of Genji if women in Japan were not educated and encouraged to write. Some religions and societies educated and valued women and their importance, while other religions and societies looked down upon women and deemed them unimportant and too dumb to educate. To better round this post classical consensus it would be of value to have an article from all areas of the world, in particular it would be nice to have an article from Hindu India or Russia. This is simply because of the fact that it would bring cultural flavor, a polytheistic religion, and possibly some smaller civilizations that are less developed into the study.
In some regions of the post classical world religion was seen to have a positive outlook on the treatment of women. (Doc #11) It has been found that in these regions women were given some property rights and had a right to have a share in what they earned. Whether it was the money they earned from their produce, or the money they earned form selling the fine clothes and rugs that they would weave. It was also in these regions that men were encouraged to talk persuasively to their wives instead of beating them. Women were given a right to their body, and were given a voice in the doing of their "wifely duties".
There were also regions in post classical world where religion was seen to have a negative outlook on the treatment and views of women. It was in these regions where women were considered unknowledgeable and sometimes considered lower than an ignoramus (Doc #22). It was said that when an ignoramus had his grace said by a scholar his obligation would be fulfilled. This is because an ignoramus understands Hebrew and what is said in grace but just does not know how to say grace himself. But this does not apply to women at all, because of the fact that women did not understand Hebrew or what was said in grace. So even when a scholar gave his blessing for them their obligation was not fulfilled. This often held women in a position lower than an ignoramus.
In other regions of the post classical world society was seen to have a positive outlook on the treatment and view of women. In some of these societies women with out husbands, with degenerate husbands, or women with stupid husbands were still able to keep their household running ( Doc #43). These women were able to handle their families finances, calculate the outlays of receipts of money and grain, without being cheated by anyone or becoming bankrupt. They were also able to raise and educate their sons, keep the affection of their relatives, manage the family business, and even prosper. These women were themselves educated in literature and arithmetic, which in turn allowed them to accomplish these feats. In other regions such a Mali, women were allowed to have male companions outside the prohibited degrees (Doc #54). They were not required to veil themselves in spite of their perseverance in the prayers. Serving women, slave women and little daughters were allowed to walk about and serve naked because of the great heat.
However these liberties and educational traits were looked down upon by other societies. In these societies women who appeared frequently before the eyes of men were considered dishonorable ( Doc #35). Those women who wished to remain modest and virtuous were highly discouraged form appearing in public often. It was not understood why women were allowed to act as witness, because it was a privilege that resulted in frequently being involved with large crowds of men. It was thought that their taking part in public affairs gave them the habit of speaking more freely than they should. These societies found it insulting for a woman to be authorized to do something that was especially within the provence of the male gender.
It can be concluded from the documents given that religion and society in the post classical period were found to have a positive outlook on the treatment of women in the post classical period. However the margin between the positive and negative outlook was not that great, the positive having three articles the negative having two. Women were generally seen to be clever and true and were generally allowed some control over their possessions and their bodies. They proved over time that they could indeed take care of them selves, and that when taught and given freedoms were very knowledgeable and trustworthy. It can be predicted that an article from the Byzantine Empire in 900 C.E. (Doc#3) would show that society had a negative outlook on the treatment of women in the post classical period. This is because women in that region were thought of as possessions, and their feelings were not always considered. They had little or no power and were valued very little. They were not seen as productive and were expected to remain quiet and reserved. It can also be expected that an article about the observation of a Mali community (Doc #5) would have a positive outlook on treatment of women. When this area had been a hunter gather society, women had been important to the tribes survival and were considered equal to men. As the regions agricultural societies developed and Islam was introduced, the social position of women declined but still remained strong enough to give them rights and privileges.
The treatment of women plays a crucial part in the development of civilizations and their identity. I believe that it would be helpful to have an article from Hindu India or Russia. This is because all of the articles deal with monotheistic religions and highly developed civilizations. Hindu India would not only bring a polytheistic view but diversity and cultural flavor. Russia would bring a civilization that wasn't highly developed and that had different cultural aspects. By adding polytheistic religions, cultural differentials, and a civilization that was not highly developed, it would help to better round this study and give more insight into the treatment of women during post classical period.
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