Posted By admin on August 8, 2008

Ancient Byzantine Roman

Which cultures viewed women as inferior. Equal? Dominant?

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

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.

Category: Antiques
Tags: ancient, byzantine, greek, history, roman