I wouldn't call it a 'fear of women learning torah.' There's a 'fear' of violating the halacha(which b'h still exists even today!), as , the Rambam is pretty clear<br>in Hilchos Talmud Torah 1:16-17(Halacha 13 in Frankel) that one should not teach girls torah(He does mention a fear that they will be motzai divrei torah ledivrei havai). As to the question of when, the Rambam is pretty much quoting/explaining the gemora.
<br> Who said this is against "ko tomar.." ? Are you accusing the Rambam/Gemora/Shulchan Aruch of being against that pasuk? And of paskening based on 'non-Jewish influence' ? That's a pretty serious charge. That pasuk perhaps is referring to hakhel , which the Bach points out is different, since it is not derech keva.
<br> As for the various nevios and other learned women in the gemora, those are exceptions to the rule - and they might have learned on their own initiative anyhow, which is not what this halacha is talking about(As the Prisha points out).
<br> (Please note I am not coming out here against women learning torah at all b'zman hazeh , of course. It is now considered a thoroughly necessary sha'as hadchak, in most people's opinion. I am merely responding to the poster's questions.)
<br> Mike<br> <br><br>>>So, when did the Jewish nation take on the surrounding non-Jewish
influence that led to keeping women (mostly) ignorant? Why is it so
popular even today, when we know that this is not the idea behind "Ko
Tomar LeBeit Yisrael...."?<br><br>If Hashem created the world and
everything in it, and He gave the Torah, why the fear of women learning
Torah that exists even today?<<