Society in Central Asia

Nomadic societies in sixteenth century Central Asia were highly structured and had strict hierarchies, as did the sedentary communities that inhabited the cultivated parts of the macro-region. The role of women within these societies varied largely depending on terrain, the type of economy practiced, and traditions of individual communities. Women in nomadic tribes, who were often required to assist in herding animals and building tents, had fewer restrictions over their dress and conduct than those who lived in urban communities.