What is a Harem?

Answer 1

The part of a house set apart for the women of the family in Muslim countries.
The Arabic word 'harem' can be translated as 'forbidden' or 'secluded'. In only rare cases, is it correct to render 'harem' as a group of wives, which is the standard Western understanding of the word. This use of the word only applied to very rich households. In such a situation, the harem denoted the collection of women who were at free disposal of the male owner. The women of the harem were not wives, but their position was not comparable to that of a prostitute's.
Another meaning of harem — rarely used in Western languages, but important in Arabic — was to denote an area where uninvited or unworthy had no access. Hence, Mecca and the surrounding area is a harem — a religious harem. Into this harem, only Muslims are allowed to enter.
While the harem was firmly established as an institution in the society and in individual families, it spread with Islam to areas beyond the Middle East and into North Africa.

Answer 2

A collection of women...usually an arabic tradition.

Coming from the Arab tradition, the harîm حريم (compare haram) is the part of the household forbidden to male strangers. The world knows the harem by way of the mighty Ottoman Empire.

In Western languages such as English, this term refers collectively to the women in any polygynous household as well as the "no men allowed" area, or in more modern usage to a number of women followers or admirers of a man.

Answer 3

group of women for 1 man

Answer 4

its a gaggle of women doting over one man; a harem is generally in reference to middle eastern culture. here we call it polygamy.

Answer 5

The secluded place (separate house or part of it) where a man in Arabic tradition keeps his many wives as well as their childern and servants.

Answer 6

A phenomenon of a man marrying more then one woman.

Answer 7

lots of women that live with one man.

Answer 8

one man...... many women/wives.....