Who first said women should be silent and subordinate?
People began living in large cities 2,000-4,000 years ago in several world cultures. In these cities, men's and women's tasks were strictly divided. Men controlled the government and the women of their households. Women were limited to obeying men, raising children, and running the households.
Ancient Greece and Rome strongly subordinated women. Men dictated women's behavior, appearance, and work. The rules governing women became a women's code of conduct. Anyone who questioned the code was punished by civic leaders.
THIS ALL BEGAN BEFORE THE WRITTEN BIBLE APPEARED!
What Happened Next
Early Christian theologians were born in societies that subordinated women. When the theologians grew up, they applied the beliefs they learned about women in their societies to understand the biblical story of woman’s creation.