Creative Women in the Middle Ages

In the twelfth century there was the rise of the city in Europe, along with the rise in trade, travel, and universities. These changes in society also influenced the lives of women. Women were allowed to head their spouses' businesses, if they were widowed. Women

also became more active in illumination. Many women worked alongside their husbands or fathers, including the daughter of Maître Honoré and the daughter of Jean le Noir. By the 13th century, most illuminated manuscripts were being produced by commercial workshops, and by the end of the Middle Ages, when production of manuscripts had become an important industry in certain centres, women seem to have represented a majority of the artists, and scribes, employed, especially in Paris.

I found a lot about the women in the Middle Ages, especially, about the ones with artistic talents. In the Medieval period, women often worked alongside men. They created manuscript illuminations, embroideries, and carved capitals and what-not. Documents show that they also were brewers, butchers, wool merchants, and iron mongers. Women who were artists, often were of two literate classes, either wealthy aristocratic women or nuns. Women in the former category often created embroideries and textiles. Those in the later category often produced illuminations, and even composed church music.