New Research Reveals More Medieval Texts Were Written by Women Than Previously Thought
# Women Scribes in Medieval Manuscript Production: A Forgotten Legacy
## Introduction
For centuries, the creation of medieval manuscripts was believed to be predominantly a male pursuit, carried out in monastic scriptoria by monks dedicated to preserving and producing religious and literary texts. However, recent research is challenging this notion, revealing that women played a much more substantial role in the transmission of knowledge during the Middle Ages than previously thought. A groundbreaking study, published in *Nature*, suggests that at least **110,000 manuscripts** from 400 to 1500 CE were copied by female scribes. This number represents a small yet significant portion of the estimated **10 million manuscripts** produced in medieval Europe.
These findings suggest the presence of undiscovered female scribal communities and reinforce the importance of women as knowledge preservers in medieval Christian Europe.
## Unveiling the Female Scribes
The research team from the **University of Bergen, Norway**, examined **colophons**—short inscriptions found in manuscripts that provide details about the scribes, their commissioners, and the date of production. By analyzing **23,774 colophons**, the study was able to identify women as contributors in what could be one of the first large-scale analyses of female scribes.
### Key Findings:
– **Women scribes were active from the early medieval period up until the Renaissance.**
– **About 1.1% of medieval Latin manuscripts were penned by women**—a figure that challenges the assumption of male-only scribal traditions.
– Many of these women worked within **religious institutions** such as nunneries and Benedictine monasteries.
– Some female scribes also worked in **lay workshops**, proving that manuscript production extended beyond monastic life.
– Despite systemic barriers, women continued to contribute to literacy, education, and cultural preservation.
## The Role of Women in Scriptoriums and Lay Workshops
Women scribes primarily operated in **religious communities**, particularly in convents, which functioned as educational centers for women. It is well documented that some nunneries ran their own **scriptoriums**, where female scribes meticulously copied religious texts, psalters, and chronicles.
A notable example is **Birgitta Sigfurs’ daughter**, a nun from the **Munkeliv Monastery in Bergen**, who left a heartfelt colophon:
> *“I, Birgitta Sigfurs’s daughter, nun in the monastery Munkeliv at Bergen wrote this psalter with initials, although not as well as I ought. Pray for me, a sinner.”*
This inscription not only affirms Birgitta’s role as a scribe but also reflects the **humility and devotion** demonstrated by these women in their craft.
Additionally, manuscripts were sometimes produced in **lay workshops** by professional female scribes. These women worked outside the religious sphere, often commissioned by wealthy patrons or nobility to produce illuminated manuscripts.
## Evidence from Colophons and Illustrations
The identification of female scribes was based on **feminine pronouns, self-declared authorship, and portraits included in manuscripts**. One such example is a **12th-century homiliary (a book of sermons)** featuring the **self-portrait of Guda**, a female scribe and illuminator. Such visual and textual evidence provides invaluable insight into the contributions of women in manuscript culture.
Interestingly, many manuscripts mention multiple women as scribes without any male collaborators, highlighting independent **female-driven literary projects**. However, some women may have chosen to obscure their gender, either by adopting male-sounding names or allowing their work to be signed by male notaries toward the manuscript’s conclusion. These hidden contributions indicate that the actual number of women scribes may have been even greater than current estimates suggest.
## Contributions to 15th-Century Literary Culture
The study underscores the **pivotal role women played in shaping medieval literary culture**, particularly in the 15th century, when the production of books increased dramatically due to the rising demand for religious and scholarly texts.
The significance of their contributions can be summarized as follows:
– Women scribes **ensured the survival of texts**, many of which continue to inform modern historical and theological studies.
– Their work reveals that **literacy among medieval women was more widespread than traditionally believed**.
– By participating in textual transmission, **female scribes asserted their presence in an intellectual domain** largely dominated by men.
## A Call to Reevaluate Historical Assumptions
The recent research challenges **longstanding assumptions** about women’s roles in the intellectual and cultural history of the Middle Ages. It further points toward the need for additional studies to uncover the extent of female participation in manuscript production.
The revelation that women scribes played a continuous but often overlooked role in medieval manuscript culture highlights the necessity of reconsidering historical narratives that have traditionally minimized or ignored their accomplishments.
## Conclusion
The role of female scribes