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Period: 1000 to 1200
Week 1- The Middle Ages
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1070
Ælfgyva and a Cleric – Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry, an 11th-century embroidered cloth, was likely sewn by women. In one scene, a woman named Ælfgyva appears in an arched frame being touched by a cleric. Her identity and the scene’s meaning remain debated.
She stands as a symbolic mystery in a male-centered narrative, reflecting both the presence and marginalization of women in medieval storytelling. The tapestry shows that women were part of the historical moment—even if ambiguously portrayed. -
1150
Vision of the Universe
Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th-century German abbess, visionary, composer, and artist. She created illuminated manuscripts as part of her religious visions, including Scivias.
In “Vision of the Universe,” Hildegard portrays concentric circles of divine order using bold colors and symbolic forms. The image reflects her unique theological insights and asserts spiritual authority in a time when women were rarely recognized as intellectual or artistic leaders.