Student Question
How did women's roles change during the high Middle Ages?
Quick answer:
During the High Middle Ages, women's roles evolved significantly. The Church's endorsement of marriage as a sacrament elevated women's societal importance. The rise of convents and monasteries offered women new religious roles and contributed to female sainthood. Politically, women gained prominence, especially in the Eastern Empire, where several empresses ruled. Although not equal to modern standards, these changes marked a shift toward greater recognition and influence for women in both religious and political spheres.
During the High Middle Ages, women began to have a more important role in
society partly because of the Church's endorsement of marriage as a sacrament -
i.e. an outward sign of a spiritual truth through which God reveals himself.
This idea of marriage as a sacrament was really propounded upon by Saint
John Chrysostom, who even went on to say that marriage was what holds
society together ("Homily on Marriage"). Of course, Saint John was
significantly earlier than the high middle ages, but during that time period,
churches were the central guiding force within the towns and therefore set the
tone for the way life functioned.
Additionally, the rise of convents and monasteries was at its height during the middle ages and that also gave women a new high place in society which was formerly reserved for men. Although women had taken vows of celibacy very early on in...
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history, it wasn't until the middle ages that they began to practice monastic aestheticism, which is what has led to modern monasticism. The rise of female monasticism in both the eastern and western world also led to the rise of female sainthood, which furthered the reverences place of women in the church.
In the political sphere, the middle ages had a number of empresses, especially
in the eastern empire, come into power. In The Chronographia, written
by Michael Psellus around the twelfth century, five out of the sixteen rulers
he discusses were women. Although the rulers Psellus discusses ruled during the
earlier middle ages, the trend did continue throughout the period, giving rise
to a new area of life for women: politics.
So, although women's station was certainly not up to 21st century standards
during the middle ages, the time period did bring about a more reverenced place
for women in society through both the church and the state.
If you're interested in reading more about women in power, check out Women and Power in the Middle Ages by Mary Erler and Maryanne Kowaleski. It's a great read.
References