The Renaissance: A Period Where Women's Independence Grew Or A Time Of No Change?

The Renaissance: a period where women’s independence grew or a time of no change?

When people think of the Renaissance they think of a period full of great change for women´s roles in society. In reality, it didn't change how women could live in a lot of ways. Although this was a struggle for women, some women stood out because they prove that women should have more freedom and voice in society. Lives of women in the Renaissance were very hard. Some women lived very hard lives and were able to gain independence. Lucrezia Borgia and Isabella d’Este were women who gained independence.

How Women were treated throughout their childhood and early adulthood stayed the same. They were treated like property. Throughout their childhood, women were

Lucrezia Borgia, the daughter of Pope Alexander Vl was one of these women. As Pope, Alexander VI used Lucrezia to build his political power by arranging her marriage to Giovanni Sforza of Milan when she was 13. This made Alexander VI get more supporters. Four years later, when he no longer needed Milan’s political support, he annulled the marriage. Alexander VI then married Lucrezia to the unlawful son of the King of Naples. Stories have told that Cesare Borgia, Lucrezia's older brother, murdered Lucrezia’s son produced by this marriage. At the age of 22, Lucrezia was again divorced and remarried, this time to the Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso d’este. She remained in Ferrara until her death in 1519, where she became a devoted wife and mother, and influence in Ferrara politics and social life, and a noted patron of the arts. (sparknotes) Although it didn’t happen until close to the end of her life and although she didn’t get much independence, Lucrezia gained independence and finished out her life on a good note all by herself.

Lucrezia’s life was very interesting because her life was very different from other women. From place to place, husband to husband was very unique and many women would have wished for a life like that. Even though she was used by her father as a pawn for his support, she still managed to find a husband that she liked in the end and finished her life as an independent woman.

She was maybe the most intelligent woman of the Renaissance period. She mastered Greek and Latin and memorized the works of the ancient scholars. She frequently gave public performances, in which she demonstrated her skill at singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments (Women in the Renaissance, Sparknotes). In 1409 she was married to Francesco Gonzaga, the duke of Mantua, and the pair shared a happy and loving relationship. Isabella brought a big amount of influence over the Mantua court. Because of her, Mantua became known as a major center of wit, elegance and art. After her husband was captured in battle, she ruled Mantua herself. She influenced the economic development of the region, encouraging the development of the textile and clothing industry. This became the base of the Mantua economy. As a patron of the arts, Isabella collected many paintings sculptures, manuscripts, and musical instruments, and encouraged Mantuans to support the arts. This shows how a women could do so much more than what they were allowed to