Part Two: Chapter Seven

Time Period:  600 C.E to around 1450 

III. History Review

A) The Rise of Islam

~ Islam is a faith that is monotheistic.

~ Followers called Muslims. 

~ Believed that  Allah (god) transmitted his words through Mohammed.

~ His Words were recorded in what was called a Qu'ran ( recitation; also called a Koran)

~ Believed that salvation was won through submission to the will of God and to do so you had to follow the Five Pillars of Islam.

~ Pillars include, confession of faith, prayer five times per day, charity to the needy, fasting during the month long Ramadan, and a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once during ones life time.

~ Also guided by concept of jihad.

~ Holds Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, as prophets ( does not accept Jesus as son of God) and holds that Mohammed was the last great prophet.

~ Mecca was a City in the Arabian desert, it lay on the trade routes between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, It's Citizens were exposed to both Judaism and Christianity and was the starting place of the Islamic religion.

~ Mecca did not like Mohammed and is Islamic followers so they threatened them with death, Mohammed and his followers fled to Medina in 622 C.E. in what is known as the hijra.

~ In 630 he returned to Mecca and destroyed the pagan shrines- except for the Ka'ba, which became a focal point of Muslim pilgrimage.

~ After Mohammed's death in 632 Abu Bakr became the caliph.

~ The caliph was , the head of state, military commander, chief judge and religious leader.

~ Islamic empire was what is know as a theocracy.

~ A theocracy, is a government ruled by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as being divinely guided.

~ Because the Islamic empire was ruled by a caliph it was refereed to as a caliphate.

~ First four caliph were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and Ali.

~ After assassinating  his father (Ali) for the title of caliph Hasan relinquished his title and made way for the Umayyad Dynasty.

~ During the Umayyad Dynasty the capital was moved to Damascus, Syria, although Mecca still remained the spiritual center

~ The Islamic empire grew enormously under the Umayyad's, as far as northern Africa, and into Spain.

~ They attacked Constantinople  ( the capital of the Byzantine empire) numerous times during the eighth century, but failed to throw the regime.

 ~ In 732 C.E. the Islamic Empire began to make a move on Europe.

~ They were stopped by Charles Martel, a Frankish leader, as they tried to advance towards Paris. Which therefore resulted in them never having their religion flourish in any part of Europe except Spain and Italy.

~ The Dome Rock was Built during the Umayyad Dynasty .

~ During the Umayyad Córdoba  was on of the richest and most sophisticated city in Europe.

~ The Muslems split into two camps, the Shi'ite and the Sunni.

~ The Shi'ite ( Shia) Islam holds that Mohammads son-in-law, Ali, was the rightful heir to the empire.

~ The Sunnis believed that leaders of the empire should be drawn from a broad base of the people.

~ This split in beliefs remains today.

~ The decline and demise of the Umayyad Dynasty came when the Shia and the Sunni began to battle.

~ It was replaced by the Abbasid Dynasty in 750 in all areas except  Spain.

~ Abbasid Dynaasty Reigned from 750 to 1258 C.E. ,that is, until the Islamic Empire was defeated by the Mongols.

~ Capital was in Baghdad.

~ Built around trade.

~ Developed a system of receipts and bills.

~ Steel was produced for swords.

~ Mohammed al-Razi published a massive medical encyclopedia.

~ Islamic mathematicians expanded their knowledge and contributed, especially to algebra.

~ Defeated the T'ang  Chinese army during Battle of the Talus River in 751 C.E., was a fight to control of the silk road trading posts.

~ Figured out how to make paper and used it to make money

~ Credited with preserving western culture. 

~ When they discoveredc the classic writings in Athens an Rome, including those of Plato and Aristotle, they translated them into Arabic.

~ Muslims battled the Christians for control of Levant,  Europe found some of it's history preserved in Arabic libraries and museums.

~ Tolerant of the local customs of the area they conquered.

~ The  Sufis were Islamic Mystics, and were it's most effective missionaries. 

~ Traditional did not have property rights or inheritance rights, and were viewed as the property of men.

~ The Qu'ran, the sacred book of Islam, established between 651 and 652 C.E. changed allot of this.

~ Although women still stayed subservient to men and under their direction and control they were treated with more dignity, respect, had more legal rights, and were viewed equal before Allah.

~ Still had to be veiled in public, had to be faithful to one man, whereas a man could have four wives.

~ the Islamic empire often endured internal struggles and civil war, often because of different opinions between the Sunni and the Shia. 

~ The final blow came when the turkish slaves or mamluks revolted and established a new capita lat Samarra in central Iraq.

~ There was a Shia dynasty in the north and the Seljuk Turks, a nomadic Sunni group that Islam also had to watch out for. Like the Romans they were weakened by internal problems, and had external foes.

~ However it was the Mongols who invaded them and in 1258, overran the empire, and destroyed the Abbasid Dynasty.

~ It's people fled to Egypt where it remained intact but powerless.

~ Eventually he Ottoman Turks reunited  Egypt, Syria, and Arabia into a new Islamic state which would last until 1918.

B) Developments in Europe and the Byzantine Empire

~  Developments in Europe became quit complicated during the Middle Ages, which is the period after the fall of Rome and before the Renaissance.

The Byzantine Empire: Brief Details

~ Was distinct from the Roman Empire.

~ Used Greek language, Architecture had distinctive domes, Culture had more in common with eastern cultures like  those of Persia.

~ Its religion became a completely different kind of Christianity called Orthodox Christianity.

~ Byzantine rulers ruled with absolute authority, especially over the economy.

~ Used coined money.

~ Under Justinian who reigned from 527 to 565 the glory of the Roman Empire was some what restored in Constantinople.

~ Region Flourished in trade and arts.

~ Justinian period remembered for two things, the Justinian Code, and Hagia Sophia.

~ The Justinian Code was a codification of Roman law that kept ancient Roman legal principles alive.

~ Hagia Sophia, a enormous cathedral that still stands today.

~ Byzantines remembered for their mosaic art form used to decorate churches.

~ In contrast to the Roman Catholic emperors of the West, who regarded the pope as the leader of Byzantiums church , secular rulers headed the Church.

~ In 1054 C.E. the Roman Catholic pope excommunicated the patriarch of Constantinople, who did the same to the pope.

~ Orthodoxy influenced the East, and Roman Catholicism influenced the West.  

Impact of Orthodoxy on Russia

~ In the Ninth century the slavic people of Europe and Russia were converted  to Christianity by St. Cyril, and Orthodox Christian, who used the Greek alphabet to create the Slavic alphabet.

~ When Valdimir, a Russian prince from Kiev, abandoned the traditional pagan religion and converted to Christianity, he also considered Islam, Judaism, and Roman Catholicism. But chose Christian Orthodoxy because it had no restrictions on when or what he could eat.

~ Russia's Orthodox Church was aligned with Byzantine, but did Roman traditions. Therefore, Russia became culturally different from the other great powers of europe that had grown out of the roman Catholic tradition.

Meanwhile Out West: The Franks Versus the Muslims

~ The Franks were a Germanic tribe that united under the leadership of King Clovis in the lat fifth century.

~ He Built a large Empire that stretched from present-day Germany to through Belgium and into France.

~ He converted to Roman Catholicism and made his capital in Paris.

~ After he died his empire was divided among his sons, after which it lost influence.

~ Charles Martel lead the revolt against the advancing Muslims and in 732 defeated them at the Battle of Tours.

~ He then founded the Carolingian Dynasty, and During his tenure he tried to reunite the region under his control.

~ When his son Pepin took control he chose to have his succession certified by the pope, a significant step that sent a clear signal that the empires legitimacy rested on the Roman Catholic Church's approval. 

Charlemagne: The Empire Strikes Back

~ Charles, Pepin's son, was crowned by the pope in 800, and became known as Charlemagne ( Charles the Great).

~ The Empire he built would be called the Holy Roman Empire upon the coronation of Otto the Great in 962.

~ Had little in common with the original Roman Empire, other than the fact that the power was once again centralized, and Rome began to think of itself again as a world center.

~ It's size compared to that of it's namesake was relatively small.It included Italy, Germany, Belgium, and France.

~ Under Charlemagne a strong focus was put on the arts and education.

~ Although he was very powerful, his rule was not absolute, society was structured around Feudalism. So he had overall control over his empire, but the local lords had power over the local territories, anwsering only to Charlmagne only on a as-needed bases.

~ After his death and the death of his son Louis, the empire was divided among his three grandsons according to the Treaty of Verdun in 843.

Vikings: Raiders from the Norse

~ During this time Western Europe continued to be  attacked by powerful invaders.

~ These Invaders were the Vikings from Scandinavia and the Magyars from Hungary.

~ Although the Vikings were not the only raiders they were the most successful.

~ Beginning around 800 they used their highly maneuverable multi-oared boats to raid on the open seas, up and down the atlantic cost, and along the inland rivers.

~ Got a bad reputation from raiding  Roman Catholic monasteries.

~ Island life meant limited resources, and raiding was a normal consequence of the pressure of a growing society.

~ Monasteries held much wealth and food, so they were natural targets.

~ Raiding was just one aspect of the Norse economy, the Vikings were also Fisherman and merchant and developed on to the earliest commercial fisheries in northern Europe.

~ Activities, along with raids lead to diverse settlements, such as Newfoundland, Canada around 1000 C.E. and inland Russia, and northern France.

~ They Got as far as Constantianople raiding it three times.

~ The most Famous Viking William conquered Anglo-Saxon England in 1066.

~ They were converted to Christianity.

~ By Middle of Middle Ages the Catholic Church became the most powerful institution in western Europe and one of the powerful in the world.

European Feudalism: Land Divided

~ Feudalism was a European social political and economic system that had a strict hierarchy.

~ In order from top to bottom there was the king, then the nobles,who in exchange for military service and loyalty to the king were granted sections of the kingdom. The Nobles in turn divided their land into sections under the control of lesser lords called vassals. The vassals could then split their land, ect. Below the vassals were the peasants, who in exchange for protection and a place to live work the land.

~ The estates that were granted to the vassals were called fiefs, and these later became known as manors.

~ Every thing that was needed to live was produced on the lords land.

~ Allowed advances in math and science.

~ One of the advances was the three-field system, Centered on the rotation of three fields for the fall harvest, spring harvest, and on not-seeded fallow harvest.

~ The code of chivalry, was an honer, system that condemned betrayal and promoted mutual respect. Most lords and knights followed the code of chivalry.

~ was male-dominated.

~ When a lord died under the feudal system his land and title passed down via primogeniture to his eldest son.

~ Peasants, or serfs, wether male or female had very few rights. Could Not leave their Lords manor with out his permission. It was this that lead them to become highly skilled workers.

~ Some talented Serfs began earning an extra income, and the result was a "middle class" made up of urban craftsmen and merchants.

Height of the Middle Ages: Trading and Crusading

~ Middle-class merchants were also called burghers.

~ The Hanseatic League had an economic basis; it controlled trade throughout much of northern Europe.

~ The greatest artistic  achievements in the Middle Ages was it's architecture, specifically it's cathedrals.

~ Gothic cathedrals were designed to draw worshippers closer to god.

~ Architects used flying buttresses to give support for tall windows and vaulted ceilings.

~ Became an art form and an area form.

~Crusades were military campaigns undertaken by European Christians during the eleventh century and into the fourteenth century to take over the Holy land and convert Muslims and other non-Christians to Christianity.

~ During this time  a processing of reasoning gave a rise to heresies.

~ Heresies was religious practices of beliefs that do not confirm to a doctrine.

~ Socialism often conflicted with the church because it relied on reason rather than faith as it's basis.

~ Pope Innocent the III Issued decrees on church doctrine. Under this doctrine heretics and Jews were frequently prosecuted. 

~ The Inquisition was a notorious  formalized interrogation persecution process of the heretics, set in motion by Pope Gregory IX.

~ Due to the persuasiveness and ultimate power of the church it was often called the Universal Church or Church Militant.

~ Thomas Aquinas wrote the Summa Theologica in the Thirteenth century.

The Emergence of Nation-States: Power Solidifies

~ Interregnum is a time between kings.

~ Since the time of William the Conqueror  England had followed a tradition of strong monarchy, but during the rein of King John powerful English nobles rebelled and made him sign the Magna Carta (1215 C.E.)

~ The Magna Carta reinstated the feudal rights of the nobles, and extended the rule of law to other people in the country, mainly the burgher class

~ In 987 C.E. King Hugo Capet of France Ruled only a small area around Paris, for the next couple of hundred years French Kings expanded the territory. In the twelfth century England began to take over parts of present day France.

~ Joan of Arc was a farm girl who with military backing  forced the British to retreat from Orleans.

~ The Hundred Year's War took place from 1337 to 1453, it was between England and France.

~ After the Hundred Year's War power in France became more centralized.

~ It was unified under a series of monarchs known as the Bourbons.

~ Spain was united by Queen Isabella, the ruler of Castille (present day central Spain).

~ To do this Isabella married Ferdinand, heir to the Spanish Kingdom of Aragon in 1469.

~ Rather than rival with the Catholic church  they both joined it.

~ This marked the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition.

What about Russia? 

~ Succumbed to Tarters (a group of Mongols from the east), lead by Genghis Khan, in 1242.

~ Tarters ruled large chunk of Russia for two centuries. 

~ By 14th century Mongolian power disclined while Russian power grew.

~ By late 1400's , Ivan III expanded Muscovy territory ( territory surrounding Moscow) and claimed himself czar, the word for Russian emperor or Caesar.

~ Moscow was the declared the third Rome.

~ By the mid-1500's Ivan the Terrible Had centralized power over the whole Russian sphere, ruling ruthlessly, and using the secret police on his own nobles. 

C) Developments in Asia

1. China and Nearby Regions

~ Three powerful dynasties during this period.

~ The T'ang ( 618-907 C.E.), Song ( 960-1279), and Ming ( 1368-1644).

~ T'ang started in 618.

~ Under Emperor Xuanzong, the empire expanded into parts of Manchuria, Mongolia, Tibet, and Korea.

~ Collapsed in 907.

~ Reunified under Song Dynasty and Emperor Taizu.

~ Eventually fell to the Mongols, Mongols 1279 developed the Yaun Dynasty before they were driven from China.

~ 1368 Ming dynasty restored traditional Chinese rule to the empire.

~ T'ang and Song dynasties were accomplished in virtually every category of human endeavor.

~ T'ang had a talent for poetry.

~ Under Song Dynasty China developed a printing press.

Both T'ang and Song Dynasties...

~ Used a bureaucratic system.

~ Built an extensive transportation and communication networks, including canals.

~ Introduced paper money and letters of credit.

~ T'ang power was based on military garrisons along the central Asian trade routes and at their capital at Chang'an   (today Xi'an).

~ It was also the center of the T'ang tribute system, through whist independent countries such as , Vietnam, Korea Tibet, and various central Asian tribes,acknowledged the supremacy of China.

~During the  Song Dynasty they created moveable type which resulted in an increase in in literature.

~ By the 1100's the Song were and urban population with some of the largest cities in the world.

~  Gun Powder started to be used in war fair and primitive weapons.  

~ Chinese junks ( ships) were the best of their time. They were also used as merchant ships.

~ Between 800 and 100 iron production increased to about 120,000 tons per year.

~ Also produced steel.

~ From 600 to 1200 C.E. population increased from 45 million to 115 million.

~ Wu Zhao was the first ( and only to date) Empress of China.

~ Foot Binding became a widespread pratice.

~ Religion with most impact was Buddhism, especially it two forms: Mahayana and Chan.

~ In the mid-800's under Emperor Wuzong, a wave of percucations destroyed thousads of monsatries and reduced the influence of Buddhism in China.

2. Japan

~ Prior to 400 C.E. influenced by Korea and China.

~ First important ruling family was the Yamato clan. During the fifth century.

~ Early on the Shinto religion took hold of Japan, under Shinto they worshipped kami.

~ In 522 Buddhism and Chinese culture arrived in Japan. In no time Chinese things were the rage.

~ Buddhism spread quickly but did not replace Shinto, instead most people praticed both.

~ By early seventh century Prince Shotoku borrowed bureaucratic and legal reforms.

~ Were enacted in 645 C.E. as the Taika Reforms.

~ 794 capital of Japan moved to Heian.

~ The Fujiwara were one of the most powerful families.

~ In 1192 , Yoritomo Minamoto was given the title of chief general, or shogun.

~ Under shogun was the daimyo, huge land owners.

~ Daimyo were powerful samurai, and were half warrior, half nobility.

~ Samurai followed strict code called Code of Bushido, similar to the code of chivalry. 

3. Vietnam and Korea

~ Chinese armies were in Vietnam and Korea as early as the Han Dynasty.

~ Korea had it's own powerful dynasty, but in order to keep cordial relations with the Chinese became a vassal-state of the T'ang.

~ Korean Government stopped many Chinese traditions that were introduced to Korea, but their relationship with China was responsible for the spread of Confucianism and Chan Buddhism.

~ Vietnam were not willing to establish a tribute relationship with China although one was eventually established.

~ Maintained local traditions and continued to revolt against the T'ang, and would regain their independence when the T'ang fell.

4. India

~ The Delhi Sultanate was a Islamic kingdom run by a sultan.

~ Beginning in 1206  and lasting for 200 years Islam spread through India. 

~Sultans were offended by Hinduism's polytheistic ways and did their best to convert them, non-muslims had to pay taxes, sultans were capable of religiously motivated destruction.

~ Colleges were founded, irrigation systems were improved, and Mosques were built.

~ Was destroyed by Timar Lang (Sometimes referred to as Tamerlane) of Mongolia.

D) The Rise and Fall of the Mongols

~ Were Superb horseman and archers.

~ In 1200's Genghis Khan ( also spelled Chingiss Khan) united the Mongol tribes and set them on a path of expansion.

~ Gengis Khan lead Mongol invasion of China in 1234.

~ Mongolian Empire eventually  spanned from the Pacific Ocean to Europe. 

~ Was split into hordes, or small independent empires. 

~ Golden Horde conquered modern-day Russia.

~ Kublai Khan ruled in China.

~ Not focused on culture, did not force a unified religion.

~ Established the first pony express and postal system.

~ He also gave tax breaks to teachers and clerics within his empire.

~ Ruthless warriors, horse men could cover 90 miles a day, and could shoot their arrows 300 yards.

~ Under rule of Kublai China was not aloud to Mongolize. 

~ Because of Mongolian invasion Russia did not unify of culturally develop as fast as it's European neighbors.

~ Mongol Empire declined in 1450 C.E.

E) Developments in Africa

Interaction Kush, Axum, and the Swahili Coast

~ Kush developed around the same time as ancient Egypt, and at one point around 750 B.C.E. actually conquered it.

~ Capital was at Meroe, became a center for ironworks and trade.

~ Declined around 200 C.E. as Axum rose to greatness.

~ Axum never conquered any other Empires, but traded with them frequently, especially ivory and gold.

~ Converted to Christianity in fourth century, and in the seventh century many converted to  Islam. 

~  Swahili cost was the east coast of Africa that was populated by Bantu speaking who had settled into the lives of farmers, merchants, and fisherman.

~ Language is original Bantu language supplemented with Arabic.

~ Traded with Muslims, for gold slaves, ivory and other exotic products to the coast.

~ By fifteenth century what had perviously been mud and wooden out-posts had become impressive coral and stone mosques, public buildings, and fortified trade cities, with trade goods from all over the world

~ Converted to Islam but kept their own cultural traditions.

The Other Side of the Sand; Ghana, Mali, and Songhai

~ Were in West Africa Africa, south of the Sahara.

~ Began to trade with the larger Mediterranean  economy in seventh and eighth centuries.

~ In Ghana ( about 800 to 1000 C.E. ) and Mali ( about 1200 to 1450 C.E.) there was allot of gold.

~ Ghana was able to beat Islam in the Holy war but fell into a decline, by time Mali had risen it was all ready converted to the Islamic religion.

~ Mansa Musa built Mali capital at Timbuktu and expanded the kingdom well beyond the boundaries of Ghana.

~ In 1307 Musa made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

~ Sonni Ali was the largest empire in west Africa it was formed in the mid-fifteen hundreds.

~Lasted until 1600 C.E.

~ Timbuktu became became a major cultural culture.

Arts In Africa

~ Oral literature was an important part in most communities.

~ known for their sculptures out of pottery and bronze.

~ Benin culture came up with technique of bronze sculpting.

F) Developments in the Americas

~ Incas and Aztecs were conquered by Europeans after 1450.

Mayan Decline: Where Did They Go?

~ began to abandon their cities in 800 C.E.

~Environmental degradation, over use of land, political dissension and social unrest, natural disaster and outside invaders and all proposed as their decline.

The Aztecs

~ Arrived in Central Mexico in mid-1200's and built their capital at Tenochtitlan.

~ Known for their expansionist policy and professional army.

~ Warriors were elite.

~ did not use bureaucratic form of government, conquered ares generally aloud to govern themselves.

~ Roads were built to far flung areas of huge empire.

~ Religious system tied to military.

The Incas: My Land is Your Land.

~At its Zenith it was thought to control more than 2,000 miles of South America.

~Had no large animals, relied on human labor.

~ Peasants worked the land or on construction projects.

~ Expected to give portion of produce to ruling classes.

~ Women expected to work in fields, weave cloth and keep the house hold.

~ Sacrificed things, and people.

~ polytheistic.

~ Rulers mummified after death.

~Excellent builders skills evident from ruins of The Temple of the Sun, and Machu Picchu.

~ Quipu was a set of knotted strings  that they used to keep and accounting of harvests.

IV. Review of Interactions Among Cultures

A) Trade Network and Cultural Diffusion

~ Trade routes; Mediterranean Trade between western Europe, the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic Empire, the Hanseatic League, the Silk Road, the land routes of the Mongols, trade between China and Japan, trade between India and Persia, the Trans-Saharan trade routes between west Africa and the Islamic Empire.

~ Trade routes spread religions and languages and and were known for their  role in cultural diffusion.

~ Carried the Bubonic Plague ( also called Black Death ). Started in Asia in 14th century and was carried to Europe by merchants. It destroyed entire communities and killed as many as one in every three people.

~ Quickened the decline of many feudal societies because many manors couldn't function properly. 

Indian Ocean Trade

~ Was dominated by Persians and Arabs. 

~ Despite difficulties caused by mother nature  the trade routes were relatively safe.

~ Sailors often married  the local women ant the ends of their trade routes, which made cultures inter mix rapidly.

More on the Silk Road

~ Was used heavily from 1200 to 1600 C.E., during rein of Mongols.

~ Besides silk the Silk Road carried porcelain and paper, military technologies, religions, and food.

~ Safe to say that East and West met on the Silk road.

More on Hanseatic League

~ Collection of city-states in the Baltic and  North Sea regions of Europe  that banded together in 1241 to establish common trade practices, fight off pirates, and essentially establish a trade monopoly from the region to much of the rest of the world.

~ Worked for a few hundred years and more that 100 cities joined the league.

~ Resulted in a middle class Europe.

Was There a Global trade Network?

~ After 1200 C.E. the world was very inter connected.

~ more like a web of interconnected but highly independent parts.

~ Compared to internet, only geographic space instead of cyberspace.

B) Expansion of Religion  and Empire: Culture Clash

~ Some examples are Mongol expansion into Russia, Persia and China. The Germanic tribes in southern Europe, the Vikings' expansion from Scandinavia into England and Western Europe. The Magyars' push from eastern Europe into western Europe. the Islamic Empire's push into Spain, India, and Africa. The Crusades. Buddhist Missionaries to Japan. Orthodox Christian Missionaries into eastern Europe.

The Playground Isn't Big Enough for Two Bullies: Crusaders and Jihad.

~ The First Crusade was in 1096 C.E., it was initiated by Pope Urban, Was in response to the Seljuk Turks who had taken over the Holy Land.

~ Through the year of 1204 C.E. a total of four crusades  failed to produce results.

~ Not only motivated by religion, there were economic reasons  and political reasons as well.

~ Could be just as devastating and powerful as politically driven military invasion.

~ Lead to interaction between cultures that might not otherwise have interacted.

~ Lead to western Europe's discovery of it's ancient past.

C) Other Reasons People Were on the Move

~Populations grew and people need more room to spread out.

~ Some cities were built to draw people to them.

~ Religious pilgrimages also had large affect.

V. Technology and Innovations

Islamic World	China
paper mills (from China)	gun powder
Universities	movable type
astrolabe and sextant	paper currency
algebra ( from Greece)	porcelain
chess (from India)	terrace farming
modern soap formula	water-powered mills
guns and cannons (from china)	cotton sails
mechanical pendulum clock	water clock
distilled alcohol	magnetic compass
surgical instruments (syringe etc.)	state run factories.

VI. Changes and Continuities in the Role of Women

Women's	Status in	Ancient	Societies
Europe	Islam	India	China
strict and patriarchal social divisions.	equality in religion, but separate in mosque	strict patriarchal caste system	strict Confucian social order and guidelines for virtuous behavior.
could inherit land an take oaths of vassalage, but property belonged to husband	received half of inheritance of male children	child marriages	access to dowries and owned businesses.
could bring a court case but not participate in decision	testimony had less weight than a male	practice sati for widows	widow to remain with son; no property if remarried
division of labor; women in textiles		family textile labor	silk weaving as female occupation
Christian monogamy	concubines and seclusion in harems	marriage limited to caste members	concubines in seclusion to harems
education limited to upper class males	literate society	education limited	literate society, but state education limited to society
did not recognize illegitimate children	all children are seen as legitimate
veiling of upper class	veiling in public	purdah: Veiling or seclusion	foot-binding