A Woman’s World: Influential Women of the European Renaissance
The cultural movement of the European Renaissance spanned from the 14th to 17th century. It began in Florence and eventually spread throughout Europe as a time for intellectual and artistic creativity and freedom. The Renaissance Man, a term that describes a highly educated and well-rounded person stemmed from the works of Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo. While equality for women certainly was not a hot topic, there were many notable women throughout the renaissance. These women chose to control their own futures at a point in history where women were not even thought of as second-class citizens, simply property of a man such as an animal or piece of land.
Laura Cereta was a well-known Renaissance humanist who lived during the 15th century. Most of her writing was in the form of letters after harsh criticism of past-published work. Cereta was not only a Renaissance thinker but also a strong feminist who fiercely defended the right for women’s education. Cereta was unique compared to other women of her era because she could actually participate in letter writing because of social contacts.
Isabella I, the Queen of Castile and Leon was part of the dynamic duo that funded Christopher Columbus’ journey to the new world. After going against her family’s wishes, she married her second cousin Ferdinand. Their daughter Catherine of Aragon later became the wife of Henry VIII and their lack of a male heir eventually lead to England’s break with the Catholic Church.
These women along with many others paved the way for a stand for equality and letting women make their own decisions and determine their own fate. Society has come leaps and bounds from the times of the renaissance but women today are facing their own more current battles. In male dominant fields such as information technology women are just beginning to make our niche in the industry.