Document-Based Question: Women in the Post Classical Era

Women had different treatments in different areas of the post classical period, sometimes positive and sometimes negative treatment. The treatment differed not only for religious reasons, but also in the different societies. However, for some the treatment was not seen as harsh, but actually as a protection to the women, even though the treatment was in reality very negative to many. Other cultures gave women more freedom, rights, and sometimes even respect, a very positive treatment to many. The Koran (Doc 1) and Yuan Cai's Book of Advice for Family Heads (Doc 4) are showing positive points of view towards women. The Jewish Commentary on Women Reciting the Grace after Meals (Doc 2) and the Civil law of Emperor Leo VI (Doc 3) has an undesirable view towards women. Ibn Battuta was traveled to Africa and was disgusted on how they dress and how they were treated (Doc 5).

Women were considered differently in the different religions of the post classical period of history. In some religions women were treated and thought of fairly well, while in others they were looked upon poorly. An example of women being treated fairly well in a religion can be found in the Islamic Koran of 600 C.E. This can be said because the document showed that women had some property and inheritance rights, a thing that was somewhat rare at this time. Also, the document showed that women can have control over their own body; their husband doesn't control their body. The view of this document is positive because it is giving women rights and control, and it states that men need to respect their wives. God created both men and women from a single cell; they both need to be treated fairly and with respect (Doc 1).

However, this was not how it was in all the religions unfortunately. A Jewish Commentary from 1200 CE pretty much called women stupid, because they can't understand prayers and shouldn't be able to say them; men have to do it for them. This document shows a negative point of view towards women because it not only calls them too stupid to understand the words of Grace, but it places them as lower than an ignoramus. One can easily conclude that the point of view of this religious document is negative towards women (Doc 2). Ibn Battuta also had his religious opinions about women in the post classical period, in the year 1352. He was in Africa at the time, and was horrified to find that women there were not modest, not veiled, not dressed, and they had male friends outside of marriage (Doc 5).

In the everyday society of the post classical period different views were expressed about women, positive and negative. A negative view of women in society can be