It’s no secret that the medieval period was a man’s world, an age when – with a few exceptions – kings wielded ultimate power backed by male counsel. Educational opportunities for women were relatively rare, and the notion of females being more skilled surgeons and doctors than their male peers was considered ludicrous. Yet such a forbidding combination of factors did not prevent women from earning a reputation as excellent healers, even if they weren’t recognised as physicians.
During this fascinating time the peasantry often relied on the guidance of a ‘wise woman’. These healers possessed expert knowledge of the powers of herbs and remedies, and they played an important role as midwives in an age when giving birth was often fatal.
Drawing on the land around them, wise women…
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All About History (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 150