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The Church Changed the Perception of Rape
Actually, this was standard practise throughout the rest of the world before the Church gained influence. The fact is that classical paganism was certainly not woman-friendly. While there were laws about women owning property, the thing to keep in mind is that it was assumed that this property was either part of her dowry or compensation for being a widow and having a family to support. But it was not, however, because women were considered to have equal standing with men. Rape was certainly not a crime against an individual, even in ancient Ireland.
Destroying another man’s clothes, injuring his cattle and raping his wife. These three acts, which viewed through modern eyes seem highly different, were all considered vandalism against a man’s property in the early Middle Ages.
Thanks to the Catholic Church, however, this weird view changed during the Middle Ages.
Actually, this was standard practise throughout the rest of the world before the Church gained influence. The fact is that classical paganism was certainly not woman-friendly. While there were laws about women owning property, the thing to keep in mind is that it was assumed that this property was either part of her dowry or compensation for being a widow and having a family to support. But it was not, however, because women were considered to have equal standing with men. Rape was certainly not a crime against an individual, even in ancient Ireland.
