Which cultures viewed women as inferior. Equal? Dominant?

Question

Here are your choices: Paleolithic, Neolithic, Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Agean, Early Greece, Classical Greece, Hellenistic Greece, Roman, Judaism, Early Christanity, Byzantine, Islamic, Indian Early Chinese, Japanese (before 15th century), Mesoamerican- Mayan, Toltec, and Aztec, Peru- Moche and Inca, North America- Northwest Coast, Southwest, Moundbuilders, and Buffalo Hunters, Early Africa, Early Middle Ages, Romanesque, Gothic, Late Middle Ages

Answer 1

The earliest Greeks had a matriarchal society. They had a queen for life- every seven years a king was chosen to produce a heir. After seven days the king was sacrificed.

However at the grassroots level women were subjugated by physical reality. This worked its way up. Before long the seven day life expectancy became seven moons, (mo(o)nths) then seven years, then for the kings natural life. Then the male kings took over.

Ancient cultures e.g Paleolithic, Neolithic, Mayan, Moche and later followed fertility rituals, using female idols. So in this culture women and specifically motherhood had a godly status. Later cultures had figured the 'in and outs' of fertility and turned to the next biggest mystery to worship- the Sun.

Few early cultures specifically deigned women inferior. The early Hindus 5000 years ago were one- Krishna and most of the demi gods were male, and godliness was easier for men to achieve. Nature was female, so women were considered far more likely to return to Earth as another form than ascend to godly planes.

Answer 2

Interesting enough, I just heard a lecture which asserted that women in the High Middle Ages enjoyed an autonomy that would not again be enjoyed until the 18th century. Medieval woman were also compared with the three periods of Greece (which you mention); it stated that women's position in Medieval Europe was superior to all three. Something to think about.

Answer 3

The Mesopotamians viewed women as more equal that what was expected from surrounding nations at that time. Women were given rights to divorce, as well as own property. If they're husbands died, they were able to run their property single-handedly. Remember that Queen Semiramis (Shamiran) was an Assyrian queen who ruled the kingdom and had control of the military. She even fought in battles as far away as India--pretty impressive.

Answer 4

No culture that I have ever studied viewed the genders as equals. Although women were viewed as inferior by most cultures, there were things that they tended to be seen as superior in, such as family matters and spirituality. The closest thing to equality of the sexes was probably in the Iroquois Nation, where women decided who was on the ruling council (although women couldn't actually be on it) and it was the women who voted on whether or not to got to war.

Answer 5

Motherhood&wives,womenhood,giving birth. Try those cultures.