DBQ #2 Treatment of Women in different societies + religions

Noah Brown
DBQ -- Treatment of Women in Major Societies + Religions

In the post classical period, several major societies and religions developed some negative and positive principles concerning the proper treatment of women.
From the excerpt of the Koran in document #1, it states that women should have some property rights and that they should not be talked to harshly when they do not wish to go to bed with their husbands. The principle of the Islamic soceity concerning women is clearly shown in this document, the point of view is positive towards women and gives them more control over themselves and their property than most other religions allow.
However, document #2, a Jewish commentary, suggests that women are in fact to stupid to do something even as simple as saying Grace at the dinner table. Calling women stupider than an ignoramus, this negative point of view coming from Judasim defines the principles set in place concerning women and prayer.
In document #3, an excerpt from a legal code in Byzantium expresses the oppinion of a man wondering why the ancient authorities allowed women to have the right to be called as witnesses. He explains that women should not be allowed to be called as witnesses because they would be brought before large assemblies of men, and that they would speak more freely and openly than the female sex ought. Furthermore, he continues to say that it is an insult for women to do something authorized only for the male sex. The point of view in this document is obviously negative as it shows the restricting principles set forth by the Byzantine Empire.
Document #4, an excerpt from a Chinese book, argues that women often have an intelligence greater than that of their husbands, and can in fact live on without them because they have the capacity to learn, even in a society that believes they cannot. The document also says that women that prosper without the help of a spouse are worthy and wise. The point of view in this document is positive because it says that women have the capacity to strive without the assistance of a husband.
Document #5 defines a portion of the time that Ibn Battuta spent in Mali in 1352. He gives clear descriptions of how the men and women behave towards one another and seems a bit disgusted. Ibn Battuta explains that the men and women have friends amongst one another outside of the Islamic prohibited degrees. Ibn Battuta has a negative point of view in this document because his culture does not believe that women should have male friends beyond family, but the principle set by Mali is somewhat positive in the fact that it shows men and women treating one another as equals in their society.
I think that this paper would have benefited by having a document on the treatment of women in an Indian society, simply because of the fact that India is another great and influential society.
Some societies and religions have positive point of views towards women, saying that they are smart and helpful, and equal with men. But others feel the exact opposite, treating women as idiots rather than on the same level as men.

DBQ #2 Chart

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pNcIVSPU8TMuxC0w5Iv7nNQ&hl=en

This is my chart about the principles several major societies and religions developed concerning the proper treatment of women.

History Assignment

The Pillow Book is a collection of obervations
recorded by Sei Shonagon during her time as a
court lady in the 990's and early 1000's in Heian
Japan. The Pillow Book is one of the great
classics of Japanese literature and is by far our
most detailed source of factual material on life in
eleventh-century Japan at the height of Heian culture. In class we have discussed Japanese etiquette and aesthetics, and in The Pillow Book, it clearly stands out as you observe the elegant court life move about.