WORLD HISTORY

HISTORY

THE ANCIENT MIDDLE EAST AND EGYPT 3200 BC500 BC

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Women were respected but had fewer legal rights than men in ancient Egypt
A
True
B
False
C
Either A or B
D
None of the above
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -In fact, wives were seen as so important that it was an offence against Maat for a pharaoh to rule without one. As her husband’s closest companion, an Egyptian wife was allowed to represent him in his business affairs. They were equal to men before the law and legally responsible for their actions.

Detailed explanation-2: -Women were treated with respect in ancient Egypt and seen as equal to men. This equality was a new concept for civilizations of ancient worlds. Egyptians believed in ma’at, which is harmony and balance in all areas of life. Women were, however, considered property of their fathers and later, husbands.

Detailed explanation-3: -Interestingly, unlike many other ancient societies, women in Egypt were nearly the legal equals of men. They had the legal right to own property, sue, and essentially exist as independent legal entities.

Detailed explanation-4: -They had equal rights to men with regards to the property and in court cases, but the average woman’s focus was on a traditional role as wife and mother. Women at the upper echelons of society could reach the same level as men, sometimes ruling the country and playing a prominent role in religious cults.

Detailed explanation-5: -Despite the sharp distinction between the sexes, ancient Egyptian society seems to have been somewhat less patriarchal than most of its neighbors. Women had, in theory, the same legal status and rights as men, although social custom and community pressure seem to have prevented them from exercising them very often.

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