Probably more so than any other topic, medieval European society is seen as violent and constantly disrupted by warfare. Many of our popular perceptions of medieval Europe relate to battle-hardened knights, valiant Crusaders, expert bowmen, and victorious kings. While there is much to unpack in those perceptions, our focus today will be on women’s connection to warfare as warriors and generals. This topic is somewhat challenging as the evidence which survives is contradictory, demonstrating that some women did go to war as warriors and generals, but how often and in what circumstances?
For today’s in person students, we have guests joining our class! The grades 7-9 Montessori high school class from PGSS will be coming to UNBC to participate in our class on women and warfare.
To Watch
Powerpoint:
#9-Warrior Women in medieval Europe
To Read
“Warrior Women” from The Viking Age: A Reader
“Joan of Arc: Letter to the English”
Available here:
To Do
In person students
Discussion in class today will be lead by Mateya and Jade. I ask that the in person students work with the Montessori high school students to explore some of the assigned primary sources.
Online students
Questions will be posted in your chatboard channels as a means of starting discussion. They will be related to the above assigned readings.
Students who are signed up to lead the online discussion are responsible for monitoring your classmates’ comments and responding to them to keep the discussion going. If there are questions that arise with which I can help, don’t forget to tag me @dwl