New
New
Year 9

Women and the medieval Church

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

New
New
Year 9

Women and the medieval Church

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

Lesson details

Key learning points

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

Common misconception

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

Although they were responsible for housework and childcare and did not have the same opportunities to work as men, women in the medieval period completed a range of other work; the type of work they completed was determined by where they lived.

Keywords

  • 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  • Nun - a nun is a woman who has withdrawn from normal life to dedicate her life to God

Support pupils to understand the power and influence of the medieval Church by analysing medieval doom paintings and exploring medieval beliefs about Heaven and Hell.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
The medieval period is sometimes called __________.
Correct answer: the Middle Ages
the Early Modern period
the Modern period
the Dark Ages
Q2.
In the medieval period, the dominant Church in Western Europe was the Catholic Church.
Correct Answer: Roman, roman
Q3.
Starting with the most powerful, place these medieval social groups into a hierarchy.
1 - King
2 - Nobles and bishops
3 - Knights
4 - Peasants
Q4.
Which of these statements best describes medieval England?
an urban society with a great many large towns and villages
Correct answer: a mostly rural society with most people living in villages or hamlets
a completely rural society with no towns or cities
Q5.
Match the social group to its role in society.
Correct Answer:King,Made laws and ruled the country

Made laws and ruled the country

Correct Answer:Nobles,Helped the king to rule and gave him advice

Helped the king to rule and gave him advice

Correct Answer:Bishops,Ran the Church and gave the king advice

Ran the Church and gave the king advice

Correct Answer:Knights,Fought in war for their lord and the king

Fought in war for their lord and the king

Correct Answer:Peasants,Farmed their lords' land

Farmed their lords' land

Q6.
Medieval society was very ; nearly everybody believed in God and attended church regularly.
Correct Answer: religious, Religious, pious

6 Questions

Q1.
oversaw the most important moments in people’s lives, such as baptisms.
Correct Answer: Priests, priests
Q2.
In what areas of life did the Church have power and influence?
warfare
Correct answer: the law courts
Correct answer: land ownership
Correct answer: taxation
law making
Q3.
Medieval Britain was a society in which men had more power, control and opportunities than women.
Correct Answer: patriarchal, Patriarchal
Q4.
Which of these best describes women's lives in medieval England?
Correct answer: Centred on the home
Correct answer: Sometimes involved making a selling things
Involved no commercial activity
Correct answer: Some helped their fathers or husbands in business
Were not allowed to conduct business
Q5.
In medieval towns, the system was often used to exclude women from crafts and trades.
Correct Answer: guild, Guild, guilds, Guilds
Q6.
One way in which women were able to achieve greater independence was to become a...
wife
mother
Correct answer: nun
guild member

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