By Daniel Rizk

1. By Daniel Rizk

2. Thesis Although European women made some progress in politics and education during the middle ages, the most significant leap forward for women of this era was in their marital rights.

3. Outline The oppression that women faced in earlier eras throughout Europe Women�s progress in: Politics Education Marriage The changes in women�s rights that we see today that can be directly attributed to the Medieval era.

4. Politics In the Middle Ages the general mind set of the people was that women were inferior to men. Although the church was the biggest contributor to this idea women were also oppressed politically. Laws were instituted that were sexually biased towards women in the beginning of the Middle Ages. Women had to have a guardian with them at all times. The guardian was always male and was either the husband or the father.

5. Political Advances A few of the key events that helped the advancement of women in the political field are: Wealthy widows were in control of their land and household once the husband died. A few women were able to hold positions of very high importance: Countess Matilda- Reigned over Tuscany which was considered one of the most important feudal states during the 11th century in Europe.

6. Advancements cont� Women were given many more legal rights such as: They were able to inheret and own property The Anglo-Saxon king in the 9th cetury finally started to take the daughters into consideration in the Anglo-Saxon wills He himself divided his land with not only his sons but also his daughters.

7. Women in Politics In feudal castles when the king would die or absent the wife would have complete control of the throne. In some cases the wives would even be forced to attack neighboring castles or countries. When the kings were absent many of that castles enemies would attack thinking that the castle would be at its weakest because of the women defending it, which would force the women to protect the castle from siege.

8. How Women Gained Even More Rights Women received the most prejudice in society because they were given very little freedom to make their own decisions and to do things for themselves. The middle ages did not start any different from other societies, but by the late middle ages so much had changed in favor of women throughout eastern and central Europe. The biggest step was that women were no longer required to be escorted by a male guardian at all times during the day.

9. Education Women�s education is the biggest reason why women were able to fight for a voice in politics. As more and more women in Europe during the 11th and 12th centuries became educated they were able fight for higher positions politically.

10. Education (continued) Women were also able to participate in intellectual life as listeners, readers, and writers. Although the education only occurred with the wealthier families with private teachers, this was a big step in the right direction for women�s rights.

11. Marriage Throughout the middle ages there was a reduction of marriages because unmarried women had more rights than married women. Since all the women were looking to function as individuals as much as possible less and less women wanted to get married. The role of women in society increased in both quality and quantity during the middle ages. The women of the middle ages were finally able to buy and sell land.

12. Women behind the Scenes In marriage however women were able to have great influence on the decisions made that would affect the family. The women of the middle ages were in charge of: the household budget, and the servants of the house Also, depending on the occupation of the husband the wife would sometimes participate in the family business and act as the assistant to her husband. Women, along with all of their normal household chores, would also bring in a small income to the family by weaving cloth that could be sold in the market, or they could produce food to be sold in the market or traded.

13. Conclusion Women had been considered inferior to men for centuries before the middle ages, but in Europe the women gained many more rights during the middle ages. Women, who had since been excluded from participating in political activity, were finally given a voice. Women gained freedom in society as well because they were allowed to do many more things without permission or supervision. The place where women�s freedom had the biggest impact was in the marriage because up until the middle ages the men had complete control over their wives and he made all of the decisions for the family. The women of the middle ages were the first people to enjoy a small amount of the freedom that women can enjoy today.

14. Bibliography �Middle Ages.� World History: Ancient & Medieval. 2006. ABC-CLIO. 10 Feb. 2006 http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com �Middle Ages.� Encyclopedia Britannica. 2006. Encyclopedia Britannica Online School Edition. 10 Feb. 2006. Klapisch-Zuber, Christiane. A History of Women. Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1992. Gies, Joseph. Life in a Medieval City. Harper Perennial, New York: 1981. Gies, Joseph. Life in a Medieval Castle. Perenial, New York: 1974.

15. Picture Bibliography Picture 1- Women reading-http://www.umilta.net/birgittabks1.jpg Picture 2- Women being educated http://history.missouristate.edu/jchuchiak/Education%20of%20Women.jpg