From labourers to tavern-keepers, mothers to rebels, this seven-week course uncovers the many roles medieval women played, revealing how they navigated, influenced, and survived in a male-dominated world
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
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How women navigated their way through life in what was a man’s world
What will we cover?
We begin by exploring how contemporary sources impacted upon the role of women and justified their exclusion from having a public voice. Thereafter each week we look at women at various points within their life-cycle and uncover the opportunities available to them. The topics are as follows:
1. In Search of Women
2. Trouble and Strife: The Wife
3. Nuns: Women and Religion
4. Women at Work
5. Tarts: The Medieval Prostitute
6. Women, Writing and Expression
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
Understand the diverse roles of women in medieval Europe.
· Explore social, religious, and cultural constraints and opportunities for medieval women.
· Analyse historical texts, art, and primary sources to uncover women’s experiences.
· Discuss myths and realities surrounding medieval women.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
No prior knowledge is necessary, but a good understanding of English is essential. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully in class discussion and debate.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Each week there will be a PowerPoint presentation and a seminar-style discussion of original sources (in translation) pertinent to the topic. You are invited to bring along/describe items you have read in newspapers/heard on radio/seen on TV you think may be of interest to the group. You will be encouraged to do homework reading to foster debate.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You need only bring note-taking materials. All necessary reading materials will be provided. If you wish to purchase a book before the course begins, I recommend Susan Signe Morrison’s A Medieval Woman’s Companion: Women’s Lives in the European Middle Ages.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
HBH23Rebels and Parliament in 13th Century EnglandHEH11The rise of Europe: 1000-1300HBH132The Nasty Normans.
We’re sorry. We don’t have a bio ready for the tutor of this class at the moment, but we’re working on it! Watch this space.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/medieval-women-nuns-tarts-trouble-and-strife3044584Medieval Women: Nuns, Tarts, Trouble and Strifehttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/europe-1848-HEH115-1024.jpg169169GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/European history22851177117811821228511771178<p>From labourers to tavern-keepers, mothers to rebels, this seven-week course uncovers the many roles medieval women played, revealing how they navigated, influenced, and survived in a male-dominated world</p>003044569Medieval Women: Nuns, Tarts, Trouble and Strife169169https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/europe-1848-HEH115-1024.jpgInStockEveningMonKeeley StreetAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-09-14T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allSep 2026Culture, history & humanitiesHEH133169169Medieval Women: Nuns, Tarts, Trouble and Strife169110169Vanessa Kingmedieval-women-nuns-tarts-trouble-and-strife/heh133-2627<p>From labourers to tavern-keepers, mothers to rebels, this seven-week course uncovers the many roles medieval women played, revealing how they navigated, influenced, and survived in a male-dominated world</p>0000-Available|2026-09-14 00:00:00<p>How women navigated their way through life in what was a man’s world</p><p>From labourers to tavern-keepers, mothers to rebels, this seven-week course uncovers the many roles medieval women played, revealing how they navigated, influenced, and survived in a male-dominated world</p><p>We begin by exploring how contemporary sources impacted upon the role of women and justified their exclusion from having a public voice. Thereafter each week we look at women at various points within their life-cycle and uncover the opportunities available to them. The topics are as follows:</p><p></p><p>1. In Search of Women</p><p>2. Trouble and Strife: The Wife</p><p>3. Nuns: Women and Religion</p><p>4. Women at Work</p><p>5. Tarts: The Medieval Prostitute</p><p>6. Women, Writing and Expression</p><p>Understand the diverse roles of women in medieval Europe.</p><p>· Explore social, religious, and cultural constraints and opportunities for medieval women.</p><p>· Analyse historical texts, art, and primary sources to uncover women’s experiences.</p><p>· Discuss myths and realities surrounding medieval women.</p><p>No prior knowledge is necessary, but a good understanding of English is essential. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully in class discussion and debate.</p><p>Each week there will be a PowerPoint presentation and a seminar-style discussion of original sources (in translation) pertinent to the topic. You are invited to bring along/describe items you have read in newspapers/heard on radio/seen on TV you think may be of interest to the group. You will be encouraged to do homework reading to foster debate.</p><p>You need only bring note-taking materials. All necessary reading materials will be provided. If you wish to purchase a book before the course begins, I recommend Susan Signe Morrison’s A Medieval Woman’s Companion: Women’s Lives in the European Middle Ages.</p>HBH23Rebels and Parliament in 13th Century EnglandHEH11The rise of Europe: 1000-1300HBH132The Nasty Normans.HistoryEuropean historyvirtual169169110HEH133NONEMon14/09/26 - 26/10/2618:00 - 19:3018:0019:307 sessions (over 7 weeks)75-10 weeksEveningWeekdayKSKeeley StreetVanessa KingBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2026-09-14T00:00:00+00:00Sep 2026Culture, history & humanities169169Medieval Women: Nuns, Tarts, Trouble and Strifemedieval-women-nuns-tarts-trouble-and-strife/heh133-2627<p>From labourers to tavern-keepers, mothers to rebels, this seven-week course uncovers the many roles medieval women played, revealing how they navigated, influenced, and survived in a male-dominated world</p>0000-Available|2026-09-14 00:00:00<p>How women navigated their way through life in what was a man’s world</p><p>From labourers to tavern-keepers, mothers to rebels, this seven-week course uncovers the many roles medieval women played, revealing how they navigated, influenced, and survived in a male-dominated world</p><p>We begin by exploring how contemporary sources impacted upon the role of women and justified their exclusion from having a public voice. Thereafter each week we look at women at various points within their life-cycle and uncover the opportunities available to them. The topics are as follows:</p><p></p><p>1. In Search of Women</p><p>2. Trouble and Strife: The Wife</p><p>3. Nuns: Women and Religion</p><p>4. Women at Work</p><p>5. Tarts: The Medieval Prostitute</p><p>6. Women, Writing and Expression</p><p>Understand the diverse roles of women in medieval Europe.</p><p>· Explore social, religious, and cultural constraints and opportunities for medieval women.</p><p>· Analyse historical texts, art, and primary sources to uncover women’s experiences.</p><p>· Discuss myths and realities surrounding medieval women.</p><p>No prior knowledge is necessary, but a good understanding of English is essential. An open mind and willingness to participate, respectfully in class discussion and debate.</p><p>Each week there will be a PowerPoint presentation and a seminar-style discussion of original sources (in translation) pertinent to the topic. You are invited to bring along/describe items you have read in newspapers/heard on radio/seen on TV you think may be of interest to the group. You will be encouraged to do homework reading to foster debate.</p><p>You need only bring note-taking materials. All necessary reading materials will be provided. If you wish to purchase a book before the course begins, I recommend Susan Signe Morrison’s A Medieval Woman’s Companion: Women’s Lives in the European Middle Ages.</p>HBH23Rebels and Parliament in 13th Century EnglandHEH11The rise of Europe: 1000-1300HBH132The Nasty Normans.HistoryEuropean historyconfigurable
11821178European historyhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/humanities/history/european-history1/2/285/1177/1178/11821/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/History/European history
