The term "Renaissance" means a new birth of the study of the classics. In that period there is the revival of human being too, because the new ideas of humanism inspired by the Roman and Greek culture of the past went out.

The culture of the Renaissance based on the classical references. Their centers were Greece and Rome, two places geographically very far from England: as a result, when the Classics were re-discovered, they spent some time to reach English universities.

As the Middle Ages progressed, we find that, much as it happened in ancient times, women gain and then lose rights as the historical and political face of Europe changes. The Renaissance has been called a period of renewed intellectual, political, and artistic development, the "re-birth" of civilization benefited only men.

So "Did Women have a Renaissance?"

While some few wealthy noble women held some power during this time, even most upper class women had very limited roles in society.

In the Renaissance, women remained active only in spinning wool. Small shops in master craftsman's (artigiano) home were moved to larger shops in a different location, removing the wife from participation in the business while keeping the house.

Historians believe women filled a greater variety of professional roles, had more responsibilities, and had more economic contribution during the Middle Ages rather than the Renaissance.

Women who could not marry or lacked the dowry (dote) required (richiesto) to become nuns had to find work.

Before the 15th century women could join craft guilds, but after that point craft guilds began to exclude women. Women could be wool merchants, cutlers, leather workers, butchers, ironmonger, glovers, bookbinders, or goldsmiths. Sometimes, the wife of craftsman was good enough to supervise the shop or take it over when her husband was dead.