Why Writing Women Back into History Matters

Rediscovering remarkable historical figures such as the Birka Warrior Woman, Hildegard of Bingen, and King Jadwiga offers a fresh perspective to understand an era often dismissed as 'nasty, brutish, and short'. Rather than being exceptions, this lecture reveals the considerable influence and power held by medieval women and sheds light on the gradual erosion of female agency over subsequent centuries. Through their rediscovery, it interrogates traditional historical narratives and constructs more nuanced, inclusive accounts that reflect the richness, complexity and diversity of the past.