Some brief facts of Women in Medieval Times

 Women have had a prominent role in the history of civilization. What is not always known to many modern readers, is the role women played as so influential in Medieval Times. The following article is only meant to clear up a few misunderstandings that many many modern people have of Medieval Women, and the culture, that they influenced.
 I have only covered in this post three common objections about Medieval Western Christian women that are simply not true. I may write more about these issues, or others, on this blog in the future.

                                                          In Medieval and Renaissance Art,
                                                          the virgin Mary, Mother of God is
                                                          often depicted with red hair, as is her
                                                          Son, Jesus.



       1. False Claim:  The Catholic Church put Joan of Arc to death
       1: Objection responded

 The Catholic Church never put Joan of Arc to death. The English clergy gave her an unfair trial, including molesting her, forbidding her from the Sacraments, and forbidding her to write the pope. The pope in fact, took her side when he found out what happened, sadly Joan of Arc had already been taken to the burning stake when this was realized. St. Joan died in the flames, holding her crucifix, and calling out, ''Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.''

 Source for the above: Positively Medieval, the Surprising dynamic Heroic Church of the Middle Ages by Jamie Blosser, pages 131-140.

                                                                   St. Joan of Arc




2. False Claim: Women were undermined in the Middle Ages
2. Objection responded

This second objection is so vague and typical of leftist propaganda, that it is sad that so many people have come to believe it. If by women being undermined, it means the church protected women from sexual acts outside of marriage, and birth control, then thank God.
 The truth for the matter is, is that women in many ways were more valued in Western culture of the Middle Ages then they are today. In fact, the greatest impact of women on history, has been by bearing offspring and raising  children, a distinct gift that has been undermined by feminist of this age. In this way then, as applied to the family and production of children, it could be easily argued and proven, that Medieval Women were more influential on their age, then women are today.
 Sex outside of marriage, and illegitimate children despite being common in all ages of history, are more common now than ever. One thing how leftist media avoids, is the physiological role sin plays on humanity, and in this case, since it is the topic of this post, women.
 Women weren't expected to defend men in battle, something that many women today are no longer protected from.
 Although it was less so than boys, there were cases when girls could also read and write, such as Christine de Pisan, from 15th century France.
 An important also to remember, is that ladies of castles often managed affairs of their local lands and strongholds. This was quite common for example, when her husband was gone away, in war for instance.
 As far as education is concerned, while  noble men were mostly trained from an early age to be clergy, or knights, women were trained in arts such as spinning, sewing, and music. The opposing roles are not rivals, but reflect the Biblical nature of men and women being much different, and having much different roles in society.
 Women did not serve in many professions as they do today, but many of them that lived in towns could run their own business. Some women were even writers and artist, as well as craftswomen and tradeswomen.

                                       
                                         An illustration of a Medieval lady, accompanied by her ladies in waiting.  Notice, that the woman is actually reading from the photo.

 The Biblical role of women is of course quite clear in 1 Peter 3: 7

 '' Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint errs of the grace of life, in order that your prayers may not be hindered. ''

  But perhaps more interesting than of the points mentioned earlier of Medieval women's roles in the town, or in the home, and certainly less well known, is that Medieval Women frequently went on Crusades, by their own choice. Some even led such quests, such as Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, whom went with her husband on the Second Crusade, 1147-1149. Just like many men and children, Medieval Women were fascinated by the Holy Places, and also fearful of displeasing God.




 Some further reading of sources to the above information:  Castles by Philip Steele pages 38-39, The Big Golden Book of Knights and Castles by Barbara Weisberg, Damsels not in Distress: The true Story of Women in Medieval Times by Andrea Hopkins, pages 6-8, The Second Crusade by Jonathan Phillips, page 118.

 I will not say any of Medieval Chivalry, and Courtly Love here, or how men treated women in Medieval Times, as that will addressed in a future post.




3. False Claim: The East Treated Women better than the West
3. Objection refuted

                                   
                                           A painting of Muslim Medieval Women.


 This is a common objection by leftist, and Moslems, that the Christian West treated women with less dignity than the east did. Nothing could be further from the truth


 Polygamy is just one example of the inferior view towards women believed by many Muslim men through the Middle Eastern and North African regions.
 It is a well known fact that Islam allows this. In Koran 4: 3-4, it allows polygamy.
 ''And if you feel you will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women, who seem good to you, two or three or four, and if ye fear that you cannot do justice { to so many} then one {only} or {the captives} that your right hand possesses. Thus it is more likely that you will not do injustice. ''
 So speaks the book deemed holy by the Moslems.
 I'm not bringing up this issue for the purpose of a theological debate of what marriage is. All I'm illustrating by the facts, is that Medieval Christian West valued women much more than the Medieval Islamic East.
 The stunning killing of baby girls, was quite common to Muslim society. So much for the idea that Muslims treated women better than Christians did.
 Further reading on this issue:
 http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/print/opr/t243/e370


 As always to end with a Medieval Quote:
 '' The Joy of late love is like green firewood when set aflame; for the longer the wait in lightning, the greater heat it yields and the longer it's force last.''
 -Chretian de Troyes,