During the Anglo-Saxon period, women enjoyed equality that was unprecedented in the past, and would remain unmatched until the modern times. Women were considered citizens under the law, and they had control over their finances and could access high positions of power in the Church. Divorce in the case of adultery was possible. They were also allowed to have a rich public life, and were compensated appropriately for any crime committed against them. Inheritances had no preference for male or female descendants and many landowners were women.
As Europe transitioned into the Medieval period, a lot of equality that women enjoyed was lost. Marriage changed from a contract between two independent people to a union where men were given absolute control of women. Peasants, slaves and servants needed their master’s consent to get married, according to the law, and were punished if they did not do so. Inheritances followed a male-preference primogeniture, although a woman could access the money on some occasions (like when her male first-born son was a minor). However, there were significant differences among different regions. Eastern Europe had more educated women, who enjoyed higher status than those of Western Europe.
