Women in the Middle Ages: how BAD could it be?

1
Women in the Middle Ageshow BAD could it be?

• Misogyny of influential theologians such as
  Thomas Aquinas
• Salic law (thrones went to male heirs only)
  throughout most of Europe (not Britain)
• Antiquity (Greece, Rome, Hebrew culture)
  extremely misogynistic--remnants remain
• Warrior culture celebrates male strengths

2
Women in the Middle Ageshow GOOD could it be?

• Christianity, especially Marian cults, female
  saints, and convent opportunities, empower and
  elevate women.
• Doctrines of salvation and emphasis on next
  (rather than this) world empower many.
• Labor shortages caused by plagues open doors to
  women.
• Germanic Celtic tribes--women exercise limited
  political military power.

3

• Value of brain work increases as value of muscle
  work decreases throughout medieval period--more
  commerce, less war.
• Church control over marriage makes it much harder
  for men to divorce wives.
• Dower system guarantees widows an income from
  husbands property. Gives married/widowed women
  control over property. (Right lost in
  Renaissance.)
• Virtually all women work--even wealthy women
  control/run property.