Renaissance WomenRenaissance WomenRenaissance MotherRenaissance Mother

Renaissance Childbirth & Child Renaissance Childbirth & Child MortalityMortality

Unmarried Women & Illegitimate Unmarried Women & Illegitimate Children and WidowsChildren and Widows

ConventsConvents

Witch HuntsWitch Hunts

The Education of Renaissance The Education of Renaissance WomenWomen

Topic – Renaissance MotherTopic – Renaissance Mother

What occupied the lives What occupied the lives of most Renaissance of most Renaissance women?women?

MotherhoodMotherhood Why were wealthy Why were wealthy

women able to have women able to have more children?more children?

Wealthy women married Wealthy women married earlier and did not earlier and did not breastfeed.breastfeed.

Topic – Renaissance Childbirth & Topic – Renaissance Childbirth & Child MortalityChild Mortality

What percent of women died from What percent of women died from childbirth?childbirth?

10%10% Name three diseases that children Name three diseases that children

died of during the Renaissance.died of during the Renaissance. Tuberculosis Tuberculosis Influenza Influenza DiarrheaDiarrhea *Chronic malnutrition; *Chronic malnutrition;

starvation and neglect also starvation and neglect also led to a high infant mortality led to a high infant mortality rate.rate.

Topic – Unmarried Women & Topic – Unmarried Women & Illegitimate Children and WidowsIllegitimate Children and Widows What happened to a woman who had an illegitimate What happened to a woman who had an illegitimate

child?child? She was taxed, imprisoned or banished from the She was taxed, imprisoned or banished from the

community.community. What is infanticide?What is infanticide?

The killing of a baby.The killing of a baby. Describe advantages and disadvantages of being a Describe advantages and disadvantages of being a

widow.widow. Advantages:Advantages:

Economic independence: inherited property; Economic independence: inherited property; carry on husband’s tradecarry on husband’s trade

Disadvantages:Disadvantages: Responsible for husband’s debtResponsible for husband’s debt If childless, the woman could be returned to her If childless, the woman could be returned to her

father, uncle or brother’s carefather, uncle or brother’s care Poor women were left destitutePoor women were left destitute

Topic – ConventsTopic – Convents List two reasons why families put their List two reasons why families put their

daughters in convents.daughters in convents. Families had to supply a dowry for the Families had to supply a dowry for the

daughter daughter A dowry could make a family bankruptA dowry could make a family bankrupt

Describe what happened to girls who were Describe what happened to girls who were forced into convents.forced into convents.

They were forced to obey the law of poverty, They were forced to obey the law of poverty, obedience and chastityobedience and chastity

Their hair was cut, legs shaved and forced to Their hair was cut, legs shaved and forced to where a habit.where a habit.

What were the advantages of becoming a What were the advantages of becoming a nun?nun?

They could become educated.They could become educated. They could care for the poor, sick or insane.They could care for the poor, sick or insane. They could teach and / or write.They could teach and / or write. They could preach or write letters to powerful They could preach or write letters to powerful

church or government members.church or government members. Describe the family background of most Describe the family background of most

nuns.nuns. Most women were the daughters of the Most women were the daughters of the

nobility or wealthy.nobility or wealthy.

Nuns in a choir. From Shakespeare's England

Topic - Witch HuntsTopic - Witch Hunts

What is a witch hunt?What is a witch hunt? A witch hunt is an investigation to search for and harass A witch hunt is an investigation to search for and harass

dissenters (those who disagree with popular opinion)dissenters (those who disagree with popular opinion) What kind of woman was accused of being a witch?What kind of woman was accused of being a witch?

Women who practiced folk medicine, chanted or who were Women who practiced folk medicine, chanted or who were outspoken or challenged the authority of men or the church outspoken or challenged the authority of men or the church or women who just didn’t fit in. or women who just didn’t fit in.

For what were they accused?For what were they accused? They were accused of meeting regularly with the devil, They were accused of meeting regularly with the devil,

dancing naked, killing infants and flying on broomsticks. dancing naked, killing infants and flying on broomsticks. What was the punishment for witchcraft?What was the punishment for witchcraft?

Punishment was death.Punishment was death. How many women were persecuted during the witch How many women were persecuted during the witch

hunts?hunts? Conservatively – 100,000Conservatively – 100,000 Other estimates – 900,000Other estimates – 900,000

Topic – The Education of Topic – The Education of Renaissance WomenRenaissance Women

What were the goals of education for a What were the goals of education for a middle or upper middle class girl?middle or upper middle class girl?

To guide the young women to develop a To guide the young women to develop a concept of marriage in which the man concept of marriage in which the man was bosswas boss

To train her to run a home and raise To train her to run a home and raise children.children.

What skills did these women learn?What skills did these women learn? How to look after a home and raise How to look after a home and raise

children.children. What kind of education did poor girls get?What kind of education did poor girls get?

They received no formal education but They received no formal education but some were trained in crafts.some were trained in crafts.