Abstract
From attitudes to original sin to the roles of wives, mothers, nuns, artisans, and
rulers, the article examines the role of women within their social class in High and
Late Middle Ages, that is, from the early twelfth century until about the second
quarter of the fifteenth century. The place of women in society was often dictated
by the biblical texts throughout the European Middle Ages. It is evident from the
facts that women were treated as the second class members within their social
class. Numerous special sins and faults were attributed to women. Among the
deficiencies and sins ascribed to women were: arrogance, pride, voracity,
unethical behavior, wolfishness and terrible temper, and that's only the tip of the
iceberg. It was also declared that women must be kept out of public office, must
not use any sort of power nor serve as judge, may not participate in public
congregations or councils, and must give themselves to their residential
capacities. At that time, many ideas that were considered universal intervened
through local conditions, traditions, and conventions, and that’s why women were
not treated as equal to men since they fell under male control regardless of their
social status in the European Middle Ages.
Sabah Mushtaq. (2019) Women in the European Middle Ages, 1200-1500: An Appraisal, Journal of the Punjab University Historical Society, Volume 32, Issue 1.
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