Sunday, February 15, 2009
The Imperial Harem
I would like to discuss in my blog the differences between the role of women in America and the Ottoman Empire, in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the Ottoman Empire women ruled counties, the raised their sons to become sultans. In the other hand the American men, didn’t even give the women the right to vote till early of the 20th century, meanwhile since suluman the magnificent came to power, we witnessed more women involvement in the political and governmental discussions. In the 17th century American women were mostly interested about fashion, and the Ottoman women were more interested in getting educated, maybe not every woman in the Ottoman Empire got educated, but at the same time women of the Ottomans had a great amount of influence on the sultan and his discussions.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It is very true that the role of women in each society is extremely different. You see that women had a huge role in the Ottoman Empire and many people seem not to bother to think maybe that had an impact on the success of the empire. Women in American Culture are still just barely gaining the rights and respect of men, and this country has had its fair share of problems.
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up a very interesting point. This comparison between american women and the ottaman women never occurred to me. It is interesting to see the roles of women during this time period especially how extremely diverse the role of women in ottman society and american society. Reading Imperial Harem and then discussing it in class really shows us how vital women were to the ottaman society; in the sense that without them the empire would have ended because there would not be a line of succession. And yet here woman during this time period where barely noticed in society.
ReplyDeleteThe comparison between the roles of American women and the roles of the women in the Ottomon Empire is particularly interesting. I think it is also important to add that women in the Ottomon Empire were seen as absolutely essential to the well being of the empire. While women in America were OBVIOUSLY vital in producing offspring, women in the Ottomon Empire were responsible for producing heirs the throne, the most important role in the Empire. This was so important to Ottomons that the women served in terms, and were dismissed if their first offspring was not seen as strong enough to lead the Empire. The best women were picked, in belief that the best heir would come from the best mother.
ReplyDeleteI find this comparison interesting and you make a good point. The fact that women had so much power in the Ottoman Empire and America took much more time to adapt to the idea of women as independant and equal is an interesting one. However, although the point is interesting, i find it hard to compare since America is politcally run extreemly different and was developed much later than the Ottoman Empire.
ReplyDeleteAmerica was not developed much later than the Ottoman Empire, and even if they did, don't you think they should've took the ideas that Ottomans had. don't forget America was the dream land, everything is possible in America, that's why the civil war occur. Even though the systems are different but at the same time, women are the same in both nations, and shouldn't women be more developed since they came from Europe?
ReplyDeleteThe role of women at this time was very interesting. You would think that they would think of the women as nothing at this time of history but it is amazing on how much the empire relied on them. Without the women the empire would fall apart. Who would think a strong empire like that would rely on women so much? It is a very interesting point.
ReplyDelete