Educated Women Society

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Medieval education unfortunately favoured men, as women were not allowed entry into universities and were generally not expected to be literate or pursue education, regardless of their wealth or lineage. However, there are a few exceptions known to us. One of them is Christine de Pisan (1364-1430), the first female author in the history of French literature, who wrote philosophical, political, legal, and even militarily oriented works and advocated for women’s rights. Another example could be Maria Hebraea, a famous Jewish alchemist whose life is surrounded by legends, or another alchemist known as Cleopatra, who lived in Alexandria during the 3rd-4th century and allegedly could produce the philosopher’s stone. Notable mention also goes to Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a Christian mystic, naturalist, physician, musical composer, and writer who was highly influential in her time and later cited author of works such as Ordo Virtutum (morality play) and Causae et Curae (medicine), among others. In later centuries, women’s contributions to education and literature gradually increased, although the first admission of women to a university did not occur until 1836 in Zurich.

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