600-1450+-+Southwest+Asia+-+Theme+5

Theme #5: Development and Transformation of Social Structures
 * Gender Roles and Relations
 * Veiling of women.
 * Patriarchal society.
 * Quran secured women's rights, but limited them over time.
 * Family and Kinship
 * Shias believed that caliph should be descendent of Muhammad.
 * Patriarchal family relations.
 * Nomads and Beduin organized into family/clan groups.
 * Racial and Ethnic Constructs
 * Islam spread across many regions
 * Not subjected to race.
 * Tax if you didn't convert.
 * Islam able to spread due to its tolerance of other beliefs and people
 * Social and Economic Classes
 * Economy strongest with a large class of free peasants.
 * Rural economy/society.
 * Housing varied by class.
 * Kings (wise and absolute).