DBQ #2 Women in the Post Classical Period

DBQ Essay #2--Women in the Post Classical period Amy

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 assortment of documents were from different societies and religious backgrounds, but one can easily say that one point of view in the post classical period towards women was more common than the other. There was little change over time in this negative point of view, it stayed the same for the most part.

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- if their mad, leave them alone. 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, who understands Hebrew and some of what is said...but as for women, who do not understand at all". 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 Mali at the time, and was horrified to find that women there were not modest, not veiled, sometimes not even dressed, and they had male friends outside of marriage. This can be called a negative point of view because Ibn called them "outlandish" and said that they did "bad things", he was very strict and rude sounding about it, saying that women shouldn't have freedom (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 seen in a legal code of the Byzantine empire from 900 C.E. The document stated that women should not be called as witnesses, and for them to be seen in public was dishonorable, not virtuous, not modest, and insulting. The document said that it would give them "the habit of speaking more freely than they ought". One can conclude from this document that there was a negative point of view towards women in the area of that time because of the document saying how dishonorable it was for women to be seen and heard in public, or that they shouldn't be able to speak freely (Doc 3).

There were still some positive views of women in society in some areas during this period. This can be seen in Yuan Cai's Book of Advice for Family Heads in China, from 1140-1195. Yuan Cai showed that society in his time and area had a more positive view of women. This can be said because in this document he said that women were smart, useful, worthy, and wise. They could take care of a house and family even if a man wasn't there. The point of view was that they should be taught reading and arithmetic. This way they could manage finances and businesses while still caring for the family (Doc 4).

These documents can easily be compared and contrasted between each other because of the different points of view, different societies, and religious backgrounds. Documents 2, 3, and 5 can all be seen as negative because they all have the negative view towards women. However, only two of the documents are form religious background, and one from a society. Documents 1 and 4 can be seen as positive because of the kind words they have about the treatment of women. However, document 4 isn't talking about the body at all or even much about respect as document 1 is, instead it talks about how smart and useful women can be. Overall, it can be said that that major point of view as shown in these documents of the post classical period, the point of view towards women was negative because they were stupid, dishonorable if seen in public, and disrespectful if they weren't veiled. Even though documents 1 and 4 have the positive view towards women, the documents only give some kind words to women, some respect, and only some freedom, not all that should have been given. Additional documents that would be helpful in this topic would be documents from Hinduism, Buddhism, or even a document written by a woman, because none of these views were given and it would give more of a variety to look at and think about. The documents would be from a different perspective if there were some actually written by a woman, making it easier to see the treatment of women at the time. A document from Hinduism or Buddhism also would give a different perspective than Islam, China, or Europe because the religions are commonly found in India so there would be a different culture.

DBQ Chart 2

DBQ Chart 2--Women in the Post classical Period

Doc #1
Date: 600 CE
Source: Koran
Cat. #1--Religion.
-Some property rights
-Control of body
Cat. #2--Society
...
P.O.V.
+(positive)

Doc. #2
1200 CE
Jewish Commentary
Cat. #1--Religion
-Women stupid, can't say/understand prayers
Cat. #2--Society
...
P.O.V.
- (negative)

Doc.#3
900 CE
Legal Code
Cat. #1--Religion
...
Cat.#2--Society
-Shouldn't be called as witnesses/seen in public.
-Seen in public=dishonorable, not modest/virtuous. Insulting
P.O.V.
- (negative)

Doc.#4
1140-1195
Yuan Cai's book
Cat. #1--Religion
...
Cat.#2--Society
-Women smart, useful, worthy, wise
-Should know reading, arithmetic
P.O.V.
+ (positive)

Doc. #5
1352
Ibn Battuta
Cat. #2--Religion
-Should be modest, veiled no male friends, fully clothed.
-Women in Mali were the opposite of this and he was horrified