Ch.'s 11, 12, & 13

Blog Ch.’s 11, 12, & 13

The Classical Era was characterized by its complex civilizations and the empires and religions they spurred.  Islam accomplished all of this in the later portion of this era.  It’s prophet, Mohammed, claimed Islam as an Arab religion by directing all prayer to Mecca.  Islam’s prophet, Mohammed, was not only a religious leader but also a political and military leader.  Islamic armies engaged the Persian & Bysantine Empires.  It’s territory spread from Spain to India into Europe, China, and North Africa.  Large scale conversion to the Muslim religion took place where there was Arab populations. 

Strayer discusses the role of women within the Arab Empire and in the context of the Quran.  The Quran made women and men equal in that they would both receive forgiveness and reward from Allah if they surrender themselves to Allah (pg. 314).  But the Quran does not create such equality in the context of marriage.  Similar to Confucian ideas, the Quran states that good women are obedient.  But the Quran spells out such discipline for disobedience such as admonishing women and sending them to bed beaten.  I do not agree that God, Allah, what have you, would advocate violence in a marriage, or any setting.  But Strayer is careful to explain that stringent patriarchy was already prominent in the region and not necessarily a product of the Muslim faith.  He mentions the cultural custom of clitorectomy and honor killings of women “by male relatives for violating sexual taboos” (pg. 316).  Honor killings?!  This sounds like sanctioned murder.  I wonder if this is the tradition that has contributed to bride burnings in India?   

I thought it interesting that although Muhammad’s wife, Aisha, played a visible public role, this practice was frowned upon my Islamic men in the years after Muhammad.  Women also became veiled.  “The second Caliph asked women to offer prayers at home” (pg. 314).  I have been to a mosque in Santa Clara during Ramadan and women were allowed to worship in the same room as the men, but for the sake of modesty, worshipped behind the men.  As bowing in front of worshipping men would make the women feel uncomfortable and may present a distraction for the men.  It was not meant to be separatist or hierarchical. 

As the empire grew so did the seclusion and veiling of women.  This is similar to the foot binding in China which restricted women to the home.  “Separate quarters within the homes of the wealthy were the domain of women” (pg. 315).  Women were not allowed to immerge from this separate quarter unless veiled.  I find that women of or from affluence throughout history, tend to be more restricted.  Women of lesser means had fewer restrictions and a greater role in public life as they had to go to the market. 

The Pastoral societies were less patriarchal as they lived in small encampments and therefore supported a smaller population (pg. 334).  I would prefer to occupy this type of society as women held higher status and contributed to animal husbandry of the smaller animals, hunted on horses like men, and worked leather into clothing.  Even though this lifestyle was arduous and impermanent, women were not restricted and were considered equal contributors.  Strayer perfectly depicts the lifestyle of the Pastoralists, “a life largely dictated by local environmental conditions and based on turning grass, which people cannot eat, into usable foods and energy”  (pg. 336).