Prompt: Analyze gender systems and changes, such as the effects of Islam. In the period 600 C.E. to 1450 C.E, gender systems began to rapidly change, and among those changes the most significant was the idea of patriarchal societies. Between different areas on the world, gender roles varied greatly, as well as the freedoms given to women, with religion responsible for many of these changes. Islam began as a very strict, patriarchal society but eventually advocated that under Allah, all were equal, including women. With time, women received rights including the redemption of their dowry after a divorce, and educational opportunities. Patriarchy did not vanish though. Women became required to wear veils, a cloth that covers their faces; and were not permitted to socialize with men that weren’t part of their family. Hence, women suffered if not more, equal amounts of oppression as they did freedoms in Islam. In Europe, society was defined by strong patriarchy where men held most public jobs, and insignificant amounts of rights were given to women, The changes that occurred in their gender systems include the right of women to inherit land, and to bring a court case. Christianity, like Islam provided an outlet for women. Women could become nuns rather than wives in order to attain insignificantly greater freedom in society. The overall task of an European woman was to comfort and assist the husband, as well as maintain the household. Finally, China had the most segregated gender roles. Chinese society was strongly characterized by Confucian values, where ultimately men hold power and women serve men, with equal amounts of respect from both genders. Patriarchy was reflected through foot binding. Men saw beauty in small feet, therefore women painfully bound their feet so they wouldn’t grow, causing the break of bones and overall structure of the foot.
Prompt: Analyze the interaction between Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Jews, Christians, and Muslims all interacted in different ways during the period of 600 C.E to 1450 C.E. through trade and epidemics. Conflict also occurred between these religions due to differentiating beliefs and varying forms of worship.
All three religions spread with the help from merchants along the Silk Road. As they traveled throughout the routes, these merchants came into contact with people and shared their beliefs with them, encouraging conversion. This process facilitated the diffusion of culture and religion, as Muslims offered goods that Christians were interested in. After coming into contact with a merchant, people would then continue to spread those religions throughout their homelands. Islam spread massively through missionaries, traders, and conquest.
All religions share the similarity of the belief in one single god. Jews believed in a god, Christians believed in Jesus, and Muslims believed in Allah. Although many aspects of each religion can be compared they all suffered through conflict, especially during the time of the Black Death. When the plague struck western European societies, Christians began to blame the Jews for the destructive disease, leading to tensions that built up to aggression between both religions. Christians ended up mass murdering the Jews as punishment and out of anger. Similarly, the Christians and Muslims looked to aggression during the Crusades when Christians tried to take Jerusalem, also known as the Holy Land, away from the Muslims, which turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt.
Muslims seem to be the least aggressive during these time periods. Although they did attack and kill the Jews in Jerusalem, when they defeated and acquired Byzantine, they ruled Andalus and accepted Jews and Christians into society. They helped Christians rebuild their churches, and respected the Jewish and Christian religions. Muslims never imposed islam on Jews or Christians even when able to.
Prompt: Compare Japanese and European feudalism. Feudalism became a distinct