Patriarchy in India, China, Greece and Rome Essay -- Sociology, Classi

Most unsullied societys policy-making and social organization revolved round the idea of patriarchy, a male dominated social system. This system exacerbated the get difference mingled with men and woman and assigned g stoper roles ground on these observations. Men were generally regarded as superior to woman consequently providen greater religious and political roles as well as more legal rights. As the natural inverse, women were subordinated and seen as week their main(prenominal) roles reproductive and domestic. Information about patriarchy in the definitive era, though abundant, was, for the most part, written by men, therefore history does non give us an accurate depiction of womens viewpoints. Four societies of the classical era, India, China, Greece, and Rome, adoptive a patriarchal system, however, collectable to many factors, each developed recognizable characteristics. Because they did non have a traditional role in government, women had start their way aroun d the system to gain any type of political lever eon. Empress Lu violated every cultural and social norm by retaining queen as a regent throughout the reins of her son, grandson and adopted grandson. Tradidtionaly regents command from behind the scenes while the emperor himself was unable to make decisions, usualy due to age or heath complications, however Empress Lu eradicated any competitors for the thrown. As the end of her reign was nearing, she expected her nephews to succeed her. Even as the first empress, not unfamiliar with disrupting tradition, she left the emperorship to the next male in her bloodline (Doc. 5) not a female. Though Empress Lu defied all expectations of women, her power as an Empress was unflustered undisputed due to the Mandate of Heaven, an idea originating in the Shang dynasty.... ...c. 4). This is an example of nonpareil of the seven unequal relationships in Confucianism. Much of the social structure of classical China was based on Confucian ideals (Doc. 3). In Greece the relationship between a maintain and wife also very unequal due to her young age and lack of education. Alone a woman had no political rights and limited legal powers therefore is was necessary for a husband to provide for his wife much like a father would (Doc. 6) A woman would learn house hold management and eventually make water heirs. These two similar systems of social roles was not a benevolent system. It did not take into account the welfare of individuals, particularly woman who had little power to leave in a bad marital situation. However by insuring that people know their place, which kept them in line, classical societies were more well-fixed and able to run more smoothly.