Professional Documents
Culture Documents
-Sharia: body of law that includes interpretation of the Quran (examples of behavior from
Muhammads life and Muslim traditions); does not separate religion from criminal lawapplies religious principles to all legal situations
-Some communities- women active in religion, trade, politics
-Most societies- women had limited rights
-Arab women- cant inherit property, obey male guardian, unwanted daughters killed at
birth -> Quran prohibited killing of daughters, granted women an inheritance, and
allowed women to reject a marriage offer, encouraged education for men and women
-Men and women had different roles and rights
-Womens lives varied according to region and class
-Peasant women had to work