Matilda of Canossa: the life of a woman who changed the course of history
The Middle Ages
•
57m
Watch the sequel lecture to 'Matilda of Canossa: and the Conservation of Ancient Churches'.
Prof. Spike offers this second lecture to examine the rich details of Countess Matilda’s life and times. She will discuss how Matilda and her mother, Beatrice, two women born into a feudal male hierarchy, managed to accomplish that transfer in the face of strong, at times overwhelming, male resistance. As in all human stories their road to victory involved sex, violence, war, and many rumors and innuendos which Prof. Spike will piece together to provide more details of Matilda’s extraordinary life.
The title of the lecture is based upon the exhibition curated by Prof. Spike at the Casa Buonarroti in Florence in 2016 and catalogue of the same name.
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