Essay On Role Of Women In The Middle Ages

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The indifferent treatment of women has been part of our generations since the beginning of times. The Dark Ages was a period of time in our history which is characterized by the social, political and economic downfall occurred in Western Europe after the decline of the Roman Empire. Around the 5th/6th centuries until the 16th century was of intellectual darkness and prejudices against women. Additionally, women had very abject social value which forced them to follow and abide certain responsibilities and obligations as their gender demanded. However, many women were notable for having raised and demonstrated their importance among society. The medieval ages was a time period in which women even tough were not equally measured as men due to their social derivation or gender, they played a strong and active role in society.

During Medieval Era the Roman Catholic Church had overall power and authority over the nation’s curse of running. The Church blame women (Eve) for being used as an instrument by the devil to commit the sin that lead to the downfall of men. For this reason women had inferior status among society, due to their sex and “normal human temptation”. According to the Bible chapter 3 verse 2-14 “The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” Eve allured by the serpent ate the apple from the prohibited tree and sinned. When she ate with Adan their eyes opened making them realize what was good and evil. They knew they were naked “and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. They heard the sound of the LO...

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...ved tolls on goods landed at Queenhithe, and voluntary part of every fine paid to the crown”. It is additionally said that “behind every famous King of the Middle Ages, there was a famous woman.”

Some other females such as Queen Elizabeth of England (1558-1603) who defeated the Spanish Armada, were women with authority and dominion over certain points that cover the economic and political standard of a nation. From “father Henry VIII King of England and Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth followed a path of reform in the church settlement in 1559.” This event had a great impact among society and the population as well.

Most of the famous female characters during the Dark/Middle Ages were because they had a good social rank among society, such as queens or princesses. There was nuns at the church as well as anchoress and convents.

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