Discussion Week 7
Document Actions
1. Although medieval society officially accorded women a
second-class status, did women attempt to circumvent this? How? What
factors besides gender might affect this?
[Women had few options, even in the religious life where they were
segregated and cloistered until the foundation of the Beguines. But
some broke through the contraints of patriarchal tradition and became
authors like Hildegard of Bingen (a famous nun, author of many
religious works, and a visionary) and Marie de France (author of French
lais), or achieved fame by other means.]
2. Sketch the course of the Investiture Contest in Germany. What
important issues were at stake on both sides? Which side won?
[Focus on the control of the Church by the German kings. Remember that
bishops, abbots of great monasteries and prelates of the Church were
not then what they are today, separate from the lay world. They were
essential as royal administrators and civil servants, since only the
clergy by and large could read. They also controlled vast wealth and
landed property. Hence, they had to swear to be loyal to the king, and
they had to be endowed (i.e. invested) with their titles and
properties. The question was, which came first: the bishop/abbot or the
royal administrator?]
Copyright ©2008 Aidan Breen, Ph.D.
