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 how the Church influenced ideas about the role of women in medieval Britain.

Key Notes

• The medieval Church was extremely powerful and had a significant influence on people's ideas about the role of women.
• Medieval Britain was a patriarchal society in which men had more power, control, and opportunities than women.
• The work completed by medieval women was partly determined by whether they lived in the countryside or in towns.
• The medieval Church represented one route to greater independence for women.
• Some medieval women became literate through the Church.

Vocabulary To Learn

• Church: the Church is the organisation of the Christian religion
• priest: a priest is a religious leader who performs ceremonies, rituals and provides guidance
• patriarchal: patriarchal relates to a society that is controlled by men
• guild: a guild is a group of a certain type of craftsmen with their own rules
• nun: a nun is a woman who has withdrawn from normal life to dedicate her life to God

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Medieval women completed no work other than housework and looking after children.

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
• The role of women in the early modern period Study Guide
• Women and the Industrial Revolution Study Guide