Middle East - Essay Example

In Ancient Egypt and Ancient Near East, women were viewed equally with men by the laws. Dynastic Egyptian Women, either married or single, had the right to inherit, purchase and sell property as they wished. They were able to execute valid legal contracts and deeds. Such innovation was really a stupendous environment in ancient Egypt when comparing the status of their peers in other regions of the same period. When comparing the Egyptian laws with contemporary written laws of Mesopotamia and the later laws of Greece and Rome, the latter were found to enshrine the principle of male superiority thereby nourishing only the male domination.

(Alexandra A. O’Brien, 2000) The life style of ancient middle east community was filled with the concept of beliefs. The ancient goddess of Sumerian , the Inanna was portrayed as an all pervading goddess of the sky, earth and underworld.( Diane Wolkstein and Samuel Noah Kramer). Ancient Egyptians believed that ‘ Turquoise’ – meaning Turkish stone – warned of approaching dangers by changing its color. They also believed that the stone protected them from any falls during riding and walking.

(Barbara G. Walker). Matrilineages were in practice at Central Africa, Zaire and western forests of Africa. Properties were inherited through mothers in these groups.(The World Book Encyclopedia, 1995) In times of uncertainty over succession, women ruled Pharaonic and Ptolemaic Egypt. Below the level of kingship women also occupied high offices in ancient Egypt. The period when the civilization began to take a u-turn is still under mystery. The culture of middle east was chiefly guided by emotions.

This may perhaps be the reason for an overall change in the evolution. The 1948 catastrophe in Palestine explained a little of the root cause of violence against women. The catastrophe in Palestine, uprooted several families from their homeland. Their psyche was shaken with fear of death,