A.) Christine de Pizan was one of the first woman writers of the Middle Ages. Christine was born into a very wealthy family, and was fortunate enough to receive somewhat of an education. At age 25 she became a widow, and had to take care of many children on her own. We are able to learn  from an excerpt of “City of Ladies,” that she rightfully stood up for women of her time. Christine attacks the works of well known men, and she created a sort of utopia that she believed women should live in. In her writing, she describes a city in which three of the strongest women ever would live, and what their lives would be like. She personifies a world in which only certain biblical heroes should live.

B.) We learn from Thomas Cahill’s lecture that the Middle Ages were such a complex time for art and religion, that it is actually difficult to write about. He describes the art of the Middle Ages as a “burst”, in that it was a very innovative time with so much going on. Cahill also states that people in the Middle Ages combined Christianity with Barbarianism to create a new sort of “religion” or spirituality called “Incarnationalism”. He states that incarnationalism was God essentially becoming a true human, or a man with real flesh. Cahill discusses various other complex religious ideas of the Middle Ages as well, that made the time period so innovative.

C.) Many women of the Middle Ages joined religious convents, or became nun’s which gave them many opportunities to learn and educate themselves. Many of the religious convents eventually became all women, which allowed them to have the freedom to operate businesses, and read/write, because no men were there to stop them. Also, many of the women in the convents actually taught each other, which aided their creativity.

D.) I came up with my Women’s World incorporating some of the ideas from the interactive tutorials from this lesson. My house is composed of 3 floors, each offering something a little different. Floor one is composed of mostly a meeting area, in which both women and children would be able to openly communicate and interact. Floor two is where most of the educating for women would occur, where they can work on their creative, intellectual, and active sides. Floor three is meant for women and children to have some privacy and for sleep. Life is radically different in my women’s world because women have access to almost every important aspect of life, in one place. This week’s lesson has pointed out to me that it was very important in the Middle Ages for women to be able to take care of their families, but also to have the opportunity for education and art. I believe I have incorporated those elements, as well as a religious aspect, that is also important. Chapter two of Guerrilla Girls states, women who lived in convents, “operated businesses, farmed, made tapestries, copied and illustrated manuscripts, composed and performed music, and educated one another.” I believe the first and second floors of my women’s world incorporated a space for all of these activities, except for farming.