Medieval Women: Nuns, Tarts, Trouble and Strife

About this course

The course examines how women navigated social, religious and cultural constraints in medieval Europe. It considers women’s lives across different roles and stages, including marriage, religious life, work, prostitution, writing and other forms of expression. Teaching combines weekly PowerPoint presentations with seminar discussion of translated original sources. Historical texts, art and primary materials are used to compare myths about medieval women with evidence of their experiences. Additional reading is encouraged to support discussion and debate.

What you'll learn

• Explain the diverse roles of women in medieval Europe.
• Examine the social, religious and cultural opportunities and constraints affecting medieval women.
• Analyse translated historical texts, artwork and other primary sources.
• Discuss differences between myths about medieval women and evidence of their experiences.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners with no prior knowledge of the subject. It involves respectful participation in seminar discussion and debate, with a good understanding of English needed to engage with the teaching and translated sources.

• Learners are encouraged to contribute relevant examples from material they have read, heard or seen.
• Additional homework reading is encouraged to support class debate.

Before you go

• Learners need to bring note-taking materials.
• Necessary reading materials are provided.
• Purchasing Susan Signe Morrison’s A Medieval Woman’s Companion is optional.