Question

Although Renaissance humanists generally dismissed women’s intellectual abilities, a few educated women like the renowned author Christine de Pizan and the Duchess Eleonora d’Aragona produced writing that clearly indicated their interest and knowledge in areas considered outside of the women’s realm. Review the excerpts in your textbook from Christine de Pizan’s The Book of the Deeds of Arms and of Chivalry and from the letter of Eleonora d’Aragona, then match each author to her standpoints in these passages.

Christine de Pizan:
Eleonora d’Aragona:

1. indicates that her status as a woman renders it impossible for her to undertake necessary action on her own
2. gives advice to powerful men about military affairs
3. compares herself to the Roman goddess Minerva to prove her ability to write about military tactics
4. describes soldiers’ actions based on her discussions with people affected by those actions

Answer 1

Christine de Pizan: 2 and 3
- She frames a manual of military tactics and directs advice to rulers/commanders, and explicitly likens herself to Minerva to justify her authority to write about warfare.

Eleonora d’Aragona: 1 and 4
- Her letter emphasizes that being a woman prevents her from taking direct action, and she reports on soldiers’ behavior based on conversations with people who suffered from those actions.