[quote=idlehands]
I happen to be a bit of a history buff and historical RP is a favorite of mine so I feel I have to stay something about it. There is a very good reason to have a dickish villian that can be a rapist and get away with it. He could own slaves, he could be a lord of the lands and frighten his subjects into not defending their women. Depending on the place and time period of course. For example, in Scotland starting in about 5 or 6th century AD, there was laws against the beating and rape of women. A man could be punished harshly by the justice system at the time. If you chose a time like the Dark Ages, after the fall of Rome in Britannia or during the 12-13th century Europe where it was constant warring between warlords, it would be hard to enforce any laws. Just like modern times, it depends on the society. If you go to the Sudan or Afghanistan, women are treated like property, even in 2014.
[/quote]

True.

I guess it's not something I think about much cause the majority of RP's I'm in take place in some kind of fantasy land.
So if people are going to a gritty/cruel medieval world they just make it that, not much need to focus on the specific year or location.