Writing Resources
Like most pre-modern eras of history medieval Europe was essentially a man's world It was no secret that the roles of women in medieval Europe were distinctly defined as subservient and oppressed beings Most women were limited to house chores and the bearing and rearing of children How much autonomy they had was dependent on their status or whom they married Noblewomen had no more rights than their peasant sisters who tended to livestock and planted vegetables on the farm However the quality of life for a noble mans wife was certainly better and also less dangerous and she was often thought skills in cooking or medicine The code of chivalry in medieval texts raised women up as objects to be admired cherished and protected a venerated position similar to Mary the mother of Jesus Christ and the romantic love between knights and their ladies was glorified However the reality was very different their lives were difficult and far from the ideal or romantic These socialised beliefs also translated into literary texts
