A Study of the Position and Role of Women in the Family during the Timurid Period (771-913 AH)

Abstract
The family, as the oldest social institution, has been shaped by fundamental human needs and has undergone numerous transformations throughout history. The Timurid period, with its unique socio-cultural characteristics, provides an important context for studying the evolution of family systems and the status of women within them. This research combines historical analysis with the structuralism theory of Claude Lévi-Strauss to examine the state of the family institution and the position of women in Timurid families, addressing the question of how transformations in the family system have altered the status and roles of women as wives, mothers, and daughters.
The research employs a qualitative and historical-analytical methodology, gathering data through the study of historical written sources, documents, literary texts, travelogues, and ethical books. The data are analyzed within the framework of structuralist concepts, including opposing pairs (such as male/female, power/submission).
The findings indicate that the Timurid family system was primarily extended, patriarchal, and patrilineal, with polygamous marriages being common among affluent classes. Despite the dominance of patriarchy, women played a significant role in many households as internal managers, actively participating in family affairs and maintaining social relationships. This study presents a structural analysis demonstrating that transformations in the Timurid family system, while preserving traditional frameworks, have created a noteworthy redefinition of women's statuses in the roles of wives, mothers, and daughters, leading to both new constraints and opportunities for women to fulfill their roles.