Inquiries in Chronological Order
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Evaluate a Culture using Gender: How are women treated in this culture?
Measuring a culture by how they treat women is a great way to help students better understand society and time periods. Let the students become the historian and determine how "advanced" the society was. The following Webquest requires students to have access to the internet. On whatever time period or culture you are learning about in a World History, Geography, or Cultures class, ask students to look for articles that answer these questions, and ultimately let students decide how they treated their women.
| How are women treated in this culture?.pdf |
Research Female Rulers: Were they truly absolute?
Was _____ an Absolute Ruler?
Every period of history saw women in leadership roles. In this research project, students will get a chance to research one of these women with depth and learn from their peers about some others. The overarching question is, were they truly an absolute ruler? Although we provide a list of queens to consider, this is by no means a comprehensive list. Feel free to modify the list for various cultures and time periods!
Every period of history saw women in leadership roles. In this research project, students will get a chance to research one of these women with depth and learn from their peers about some others. The overarching question is, were they truly an absolute ruler? Although we provide a list of queens to consider, this is by no means a comprehensive list. Feel free to modify the list for various cultures and time periods!
| Was ___ truly an absolute ruler?.pdf |
Acknowledge Women Leaders: How did women lead and what titles were they officially given?
Women have always, ALWAYS led although they may not have always had the title of Queen, Pharaoh, Empress, Sultana, etc. Acknowledging the women who did have those roles is one step, but a second step is acknowledging the various ways women have led and continue to lead. This helps us see and appreciate the way women continue to play leadership roles in the world around us-- one that still rarely sees women in top leadership positions. This ARTICLE provides an overview of women in leadership roles from prehistory. #sayhername
Analyze Gender: How is gender present in this primary source?
The Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media has produced recommendations for teaching women's history with primary sources and provided a collection of sources for world history. Check them out!
Pre-History: Before Gendered Constructs
“Venus of Willendorf,” Encyclopædia Britannica, last modified August 16, 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chopper-chopping-tool-industry#/media/1/439507/36945.
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Was there a Great Goddess?
Some people believe in a divine feminine, worship goddesses, and some believe that before the father God, there was a great, mother Goddess. Was there? To answer this question, student will read conflicting accounts from two women historians: Rosalind Miles and Cynthia Eller and decide for themselves based on the evidence provided.
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Rubens, Peter Paul. "The Fall of Man." 1628-29. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_Eve.
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What do origin stories say about the role of women?
To answer this question students will read origin stories from cultures around the world. Students will consider the ways that gender is represented and the long term impacts the messages contained within these myths can have on a culture.
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Recommended Reading:
The Worst Mistake in Human History is an article by Jared Diamond in which he argues that the Agricultural Revolution was not all it was cracked up to be. Among other things, he argues it set women back and solidified their diminished status.
The Worst Mistake in Human History is an article by Jared Diamond in which he argues that the Agricultural Revolution was not all it was cracked up to be. Among other things, he argues it set women back and solidified their diminished status.
| The Worst Mistake in Human History.pdf |
Ancient History: Women Fight Subordination
"Boudicca and her daughters, sculpture in London." Encyclopædia Britannica. N.D. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Boudicca#/media/1/75413/129461.
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Why did women resist empire?
Women in the ancient world took up arms to fight empires. Despite all the gender barriers women crossed the gendered threshold into a man's world? Why? In a world history class, it's helpful to have women look at similarities and differences across cultures, so we have four examples of women who resisted empire in Rome and the Han and Wu empires in China.
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Michaelangelo. "Pieta." c. 1498-99. St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. 174x195cm. JPG. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michelangelo%27s_Pieta_5450_cropncleaned_edit.jpg.
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Was Mary a Virgin?
The “Virgin Mary,” the mother of Jesus Christ has a fascinating story, but one that has changed over time. Her story is important to women’s history because it has defined the way that women in Christendom were seen throughout time. Mary’s status as a virgin, the mother of a human son, or the son of God, or both matters because it reveals the extent of God‘s power and sets a really high bar for women to attain spirituality. To be godly, Mary had to be a virgin. If not a virgin, then she becomes human, and saintly. But she also becomes attainable for other women and cultural and religious dialogue about Women’s virginity and saintliness disappear. To examine the sink worry, students will explore early Christian primary documents and consider the reliability and contradictory nature of those documents. Students will better understand the story of sick Mary and will better understand the historiography of the Bible and other religious texts. In this inquiry, students will examine primary and secondary sources to answer the inquiry question. Students should read the documents and respond to the questions, keeping in mind the big question for analysis and debate.
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Ronan, Ann. "Hypatia's Murder." 19th century Print. Getty Images. https://www.thoughtco.com/hypatia-of-alexandria-3529339.
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Why would someone give their life for their beliefs?
Rome persecuted Jews and Christians, preferring Polytheism. But over time this perspective changed. Increasing hostilities between believers led to violent executions and martyrdoms. Pragmatically, Romans opted for a policy of religious toleration, but this path was unsuccessful. Jews were expelled from cities, Christian's crucified in parts of the empire. When Constantine adopted Christianity as the official faith, it gave Christians an opportunity at revenge. This inquiry examines the lives of Perpetua and Felicity, two Christian martyrs and Hypatia, a pagan scholar butchered in the street by a Christian mob. This lesson would be well paired with the Stanford History Education Group's lesson Rome and Christianity. Coming soon! |
Middle Ages: Women in the Shadows and on Thrones
Furini, Francesco. “The Death of Rachel.” c. 17th Century. Photo provided by the Wellcome Trust. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_birth_of_Benjamin_and_the_death_of_Rachel._Oil_painting_Wellcome_V0017370.jpg.
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How did depictions of European women giving birth shift overtime?
To answer this question students will examine paintings from different eras in Europe to see how they portray birth and to compare them. There are many more paintings available online for deeper investigation. This lesson could also be replicated for different regions around the world.
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"Painting from the catacombs: the story of the woman with an issue of blood was important to the earliest Christians." Retrieved from https://www.womeninthebible.net/women-bible-old-new-testaments/menstruating-woman/menstruating-womans-world/.
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How was menstruation treated in different cultures? Is menstruation something to hide?
In a time before manufactured sanitary products and mainstream advertising, how did women treat menstruation? How did society treat it? Did it differ from culture to culture? Students will examine evidence and evaluate whether women were well treated. Coming soon! |
"Women's History Month: Khadija." N.D. https://www.andantetravels.com/blog/womens-history-month-khadija/.
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Is Islam misogynistic?
In the west we hear this a great deal, yet Islam remains the one of the worlds largest religions, attracting men and women alike. To examine this question, students will explore the context in which Islam arose on the Arabian peninsula and examine the lives and experiences of the women who helped found this religion. Students will ask, did Muhammad include women? Then they will explore Hadiths and later texts and commentary on women from later eras in Islamic history. Finally, students will consider the queens of Islam and where these powerful women fit into the larger Islamic narrative. Coming soon! |
Hammann, Ralph. "Depiction of Hildegard of Bingen in the St. Foy Church." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 08, 2019. https://www.ancient.eu/image/10406/.
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How important were nunneries to the status of women in Medieval Europe?
Nunneries are often depicted as these strict places women lived, but for many women they provided a sanctuary from the uncertain world outside the walls that offered them no status beyond the status of their male relatives. How important were they? You decide.
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Recommended Reading:
Below are a collection of articles that may be helpful supplements to your curriculum.
Below are a collection of articles that may be helpful supplements to your curriculum.
| Anna Comnena and Byzantine Women.pdf |
| The Death of Fausta (Constatine).pdf |
| Mughal Matriarch.pdf |
Rennaisance: Women Artists and Thinkers
"Portrait of a woman, possibly Haseki Hürrem Sultan, called Roxelana (1506-1558), bust-length, in Ottoman costume, with a jewelled headdress." oil on panel. Retrieved from https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/paintings/follower-of-tiziano-vecellio-called-titian-portrait-5586275-details.aspx.
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Florentine or Ottoman?
This is an incredible lesson plan we found online and Kelsie modified. You can find the original lesson plan here and below. In the lesson, students examine primary sources talking about women in Florence and the Ottoman Empire from around the same period to question whether the Renaissance was really progressive for women.
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Mannier, Germain. "Portrait of Catherine of Medici (1519-1589)" c.1547-1559. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KatharinavonMedici.jpg.
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Is passive power underrated power? How did Catherine de'Medici use her power?
Students will examine Medici's power and influence as consort of France and determine if passive power is power. Coming soon! |
Recommended Reading:
This article with paintings provided is a great reminder that women also painted and philosophized during this time. Get to know a few of them in this selected reading.
This article with paintings provided is a great reminder that women also painted and philosophized during this time. Get to know a few of them in this selected reading.
Exploration and Reformation: New Access to Education
Lucas Cranach the Elder. "Katharina von Bora." 22.6 cm x 16 cm. c.1526. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katharina-v-Bora-1526.jpg.
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Was Martin Luther sexist? How did the Reformation change women's lives?
There was no Rennaisance for women, not until women were allowed to be educated did their lives change, and oddly widespread education for women in Europe did not come until Martin Luther a man who spoke openly about misogyny, but yet advocated for women's education. Was he sexist? Coming soon! |
Unknown artist. "Anne Boleyn." c. late 16th century. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anne_boleyn.jpg.
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Was Anne Boleyn innocent?
Anne Boleyn was Henry VIII's second wife and arguably the cause of England's separation from the Roman Catholic Church and Rome because they would not permit him a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Her role in the Protestant Reformation is paramount. Yet Anne's rise was short lived and she was eventually accused of adultery and incest and beheaded at the Tower of London. Henry VIII would go on to marry four other women. One died in childbirth, another divorce, another beheading, and finally Henry died allowing his last wife to survive him. Historians still debate whether Anne was innocent-- i this inquiry, students will examine the evidence.
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Elizabeth I. Oil on panel attributed to George Gower, c. 1588. Photos.com/Thinkstock. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-I/images-videos.
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Was _____ an Absolute Ruler?
This period of history saw the rise of absolute rulers, many of which were female. In this research project, students will get a chance to research one of these women with depth and learn from their peers about some others. The overarching question, were they truly an absolute ruler?
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Should Queen Isabella of Spain take the blame for the genocide of native Americans in Hispaniola?
After all, she was the money backing the voyage and creating the pressure. Coming soon! |
Modern History: Feminist Age
Dea, G. Dagli, De Agostini Picture Library. "Women's March on Versailles." Getty Images. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/womens-march-on-versailles-3529107.
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Which was the most significant movement within the French Revolution? Why?
Coming soon! |
An Illustrated History of Privateers, Buccaneers & Pirates from the Sixteenth Century to the Present." London, 1996. p.230. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%E9%84%AD%E4%B8%80%E5%AB%82.jpg.
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Why do people turn to piracy?
Ching Shih was a Chinese pirate who commanded a horde of men and terrorized the China Seas during the Qing dynasty in the early 1800s. Coming soon! |
Follower of Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder. "Portrait of Catherine II of Russia (1729-1796)." c.1780s. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Catherine_II_by_J.B.Lampi_(1780s,_Kunsthistorisches_Museum).jpg.
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Was Catherine the Great really great?
Coming soon! |
"Nazi Propaganda Ideal of Motherhood." Neues Volk. Library of Congress. Last modified September 1937. Retrieved from United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/photo/nazi-propaganda-ideal-of-motherhood?parent=en%2F4164.
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Was Nazism anti-women?
Students will examine sources from historians and primary sources who discuss women in Nazi Germany before and during the war. How do they describe Nazi policies? How did Hitler and the Nazi's treat women? Helen Stephens, one of the sources included gave an oral history. You can listen or read the interview of her experience as an Olympian and witness to Nazi Germany here.
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Recommended Reading:
Below are a collection of articles that may be helpful supplements to your curriculum.
Below are a collection of articles that may be helpful supplements to your curriculum.
| League of Nations and the Status of Women.pdf |
| Sexual Violence and Masculinity in Post-Surrender Japan.pdf |
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We ask what happened to the women? And put them in.
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