Page 44 - Alfred the Great And His Legacy

The Role of Women in Anglo-Saxon Society

• There is evidence that Anglo-Saxon manuscripts were on occasion made

for or owned by women, including nuns & noblewomen. For example, 5 of

the 6 surviving prayer books from Anglo-Saxon England were all owned by

women.

• Women occasionally had texts written for them or were writers

themselves. For example, abbesses like Hilda of Whitby addressed letters

to contacts throughout Europe. This also shows the wider networks of

communication between England & lands overseas; & that women were

involved in these.

• Wills & other legal documents also provide evidence of female literacy.