Medieval society was characterised by a markedly chauvinist attitude: men were in charge of war, trade, religious life, whilst women were relegated to a state of subordination, with a fate that forced them to submit to fathers first and then to husbands or to God when they were destined for monastic life (figs. 1-2).

Fig. 1 - Women in the Middle Ages (from http://www.scaligeri.com/index.php/la-donna-nel-medioevo).

Fig. 2 - Nuns (from http://www.taccuinistorici.it/ita/news/medioevale/usi---curiosita/Monasteri-ed-Abbazie-sorgenti-di-storia-gastronomica.html).

Only girls from the aristocracy could have access to education and, among these, very few had the opportunity to devote themselves to literature, which was considered an exclusively male field.

The presence of women was limited even within institutions: their space was that of the family, of labour or of religious life.

Those who made other choices were destined to be isolated on the fringes of society.

Marriage was obviously fundamentally important, although it was not seen as a union between individuals, but as an alliance between families, linked to economic, social and political interests rather than feelings.

Marriage, both for nobles and for those of the lower classes, was conceived almost as a contract and, normally, it was the parents who decided and not the bride and groom. Marriages took place around the age of 16-18 years, and once they became mothers, women had to take care of the children and the house, often in the absence of their husbands.

The family environment therefore became a kind of small autonomous kingdom (fig. 3).

Fig. 3 - Women in the kitchen (from http://www.homolaicus.com/storia/medioevo/sistema_feudale.htm).

Those who were destined to a consecrated life could reach positions of power within the Church: a few abbesses administered territories which included numerous villages and churches, they were respected and feared as much as feudal lords.

Working in the fields and, towards the end of the Middle Ages, the possibility of trading, were among the activities women were allowed to carry out.

Documentary sources tell us that there were numerous female fruit and green grocers, spice and fabric female sellers in the shops and markets; there were also weavers and seamstresses and owners of inns and taverns (fig. 4).

Fig. 4 - Seller of spices (http://www.antika.it/007790_medioevo-le-spezie.html).