Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils consolidate and extend their knowledge of history before 1066 by examining how women's roles in British society have changed from the medieval period to the present.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe the ways in which early modern Britain was a patriarchal society.

Key Notes

• The Reformation did not have a significant impact on attitudes towards women.
• Early modern Britain remained a patriarchal society.
• Work for the majority of women centred on the home and was combined with childcare.
• Opportunities for women to receive an education were limited and linked to social class.
• Husbands in the early modern period had a huge amount of power over their wives.

Vocabulary To Learn

• patriarchal: patriarchal relates to a society that is controlled by men
• aristocratic: aristocratic refers to a powerful and wealthy group in society who own land and have titles

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• The existence of female rulers like Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, meant that women in early modern Britain had significantly more power than in the medieval period.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• The changing role of women Study Guide
• The right to vote and the role of women in the 1920s and 1930s Study Guide
• The role of women in post-war Britain, 1945-1975 Study Guide
• Women and the Industrial Revolution Study Guide
• Women and the medieval Church Study Guide