Philip Porter Role of Women

Philip Porter

Block D

Role of Women

The role of women throughout ancient empires and religions have many differences, but also  many similarities. Although the modern day view of Islamic relations with women is very atrocious and Muslims are often seen as very cruel and horrid towards women, this cruelty is rarely expressed and is not a common act among Islamic societies(Sarwar, 167). The case is quite the opposite in the ancient Byzantine empire. Christians are often seen as respectful towards women, and that there is no gender prejudice, but Byzantine women’s beauty was often times shielded by their husbands and restricted to certain parts of the house when guests were present(Every Day Life in Byzantium). The Byzantine people believed that this was justified in order to protect the women and hide their beauty from men of the outside world,  but this simply confined women to their house and concealed the reality of ancient day society. These differences do not define the role of women in these two ancient empires, for they have far more similarities.

In early Islamic and Byzantine ages, women had very similar households responsibilities. Both Muslim and Byzantine women were responsible for all domestic affairs within their family, and in charge of caring for the children and comforting the husband. Especially in Islamic societies, women were supposed to cook and care for their husband so he was able to provide for his family, but the men were not allowed to disrespect the women and were thought of as equal(Sarwar, 166). Byzantine people viewed women to be suspicious and should be perceived as a threat and distraction to men. These beliefs lead to women being forced to wear veils and the restriction of women to certain parts of the household when guests were present in order to avoid guest attraction to wives or children(Rautman). Aside from household chores and caring for the children, Muslim women often times wove and knitted clothes and baskets to sell in the market.  Byzantine women were allowed into public places but were encouraged to stay inside away from men. Women from both Islam and Byzantium had basic freedoms, but had very different rights in comparison to men of their societies.

At the start of Islam and the teachings and beliefs of the holy religion, women were respected by men and were thought to be equal to men. They were also thought to be the center of the family and responsible for the growth and success of the family. Women were thought of as a piece to marriage, and the men were the other piece and that they had to have both pieces in order for their family to be happy(O’Connor). As time progressed, women from mainly Islam started to be treated terribly and were deprived of their rights by their husbands(Rashida).  Towards the end of this time period, in certain areas men started to enforce women to be with men at all times in public, whether it be their husband or another male relative. Women were also supposed to be able to divorce their husbands if they were disrespected or treated unfairly, but men began to be so forceful upon their wives, that it was sometimes impossible for a woman to have a say in her own marriage. These events did not occur in all Muslim families, these only occurred  certain areas of the early Islamic world. As for Byzantine women, they were given less rights than normal Muslim women, but were not treated disrespectfully. Byzantine women were deprived of authority in their family, and had no say in who they wanted to marry and had no right to file for divorce. Men had clear superiority over the women of Byzantium, but women were still respected among Byzantine society aside from being as a distraction to men. Societal rules gave women even more divided rights from men, defining the role of women in public places.

Women of both Byzantium and Islam were allowed into religious places and other public areas. Women were expected to attend mass at church for the Byzantine women, or at a mosque for Muslim women. Although women were allowed into religious places, they were not included in the church/mosque hierarchy. Muslim women were given many freedoms in public, and were greatly encouraged to participate in athletics and education, and were free to interact and socialize with other women. Muslim women were also given the freedom to own their own shop in the market and be able to make a little extra money for their family. As for Byzantine women, church was the only chance that they had any time to socialize with other people besides their family and closest friends because most women were restricted to their own house(Dalessena). Although the rights of Byzantine women might not be the best, they were still be able to inherit property or money, and to own a business. Ultimately, Muslim women had much greater rights than Byzantine women when it came to their everyday life.

Islamic women clearly had superior rights to that of Byzantium women including household responsibilities, everyday life, and rights compared to men. The portrayal of rights to Muslim women is much less than reality, and the truth of how Byzantine women were treated is shielded by present day historians and Christians. Muslim women having their own freedoms, having authority in their marriage, and the right to socialize freely with other men and women, whereas Byzantine women were confined in their households and restricted to only socializing with family and closest friends. Religion ultimately determined the role of women in Islam and Byzantine, where Muhammad says that women must be respected and honored by all men and should be viewed as equal and women in Christianity is not seen as much of a priority. Although they have many similarities and many differences, Muslim women have better rights than the rights of women in Byzantium.

Works Cited:

"Every day life in Byzantium Women in Byzantine society." Hellenic Macedonia, www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/D2.5.html. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.

Hidayatullah, Aysha A. “Veils in Islam.” Encyclopedia of Islam, Facts On File, 2009, Ancient and Medieval History: Pre-1500, online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/Details/218382?q=Women in Islam.

"Meet the People: Byzantine Women." Explore Byzantium, byzantium.seashell.net.nz/articlemain.php?artid=mtp_women.

O'Connor, Kathleen M. “Women and Islam.” Encyclopedia of Islam, Facts On File, 2009, Ancient and Medieval History: Pre-1500, online.infobase.com/HRC/Search/Details/218419?q=Women in Islam.

Rashida, ‎Khilafa. "Understanding the role of Muslim women." The Khilafa, 5 July 2007, www.khilafah.com/understanding-the-role-of-muslim-women/. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.

Rautman, Marcus. "Byzantine Family and Social Life: Background Essay." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras, ABC-CLIO,2016, ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/Topics/Display/1498640?cid=20. Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.

Rautman, Marcus Louis. Daily Life in the Byzantine Empire. Westport, Greenwood Press, 2006.

Sarwar, Ghulam. Islam, Beliefs and Teachings. 2nd ed., London, Muslim Educational Trust, 1982.