Process Paper

Finding a Topic

When I began my research to choose a topic, I knew I wanted to do a project on a

woman who was extraordinary and took a stand for what she believed in. I read websites and
biographies about women in history, from the Vikings to the Renaissance. My reading
suggested that Eleanor of Aquitaine was important for her time, and so I read more. As I thought
about how she took a stand in history it seemed that her life said something more. Her impact
was often lost in the political drama of her day, but it seem to deserve a further look. The more I
read, the more I was convinced she had a larger story to tell.

Research

To begin my research, I went to the library and checked out books on Eleanor of
Aquitaine. I found several biographies, and a few articles in databases such as JSTOR. I
conducted internet research as well and came across some important primary sources. Online, I
found a journal article by Rita Sausmikat that had many primary source letters with links in the
bibliography. These letters revealed a personal side to Eleanor and helped show contemporary
opinions of her. Another database, Medieval and Early Modern Sources Online (MEMSO),
included primary sources. Here, I found several 11-13th century chronicles with material relating
to Eleanor. Many primary sources were written in Latin, but translations were available online,
primarily from Fordham Sourcebook and Epistolae. These primary sources showed Eleanors
cunning and influence in a way I wanted to capture in my website.

Choosing a Project Category and Creating My Website

After reading about the different NHD categories, I narrowed my choice down to a exhibit
or a website as the best way to showcase Eleanor. My final choice was a website because there
are almost no websites dedicated to her life, and thought I could make a better contribution to
history this way. The website format was also appealing because the reader could interact with
the material visually and focus on important times in her life. I wanted to learn more about
website creation, and this project was a perfect way to do that.

Relation to the theme Taking a Stand in History

Eleanor of Aquitaine was an extraordinary woman who redefined the role of queen. She
took a firm position in her determination to have influence and a role in governing. She was an
active regent and retained control over her own vast lands through two marriages. She looked
out for her interests and fought hard to keep her independence and freedom of action. Although
she was not always successful in ways we might think, she always resisted the standard place
of women in a supporting role. She showed the possibilities for a woman as queen, but even
beyond that, she repeatedly challenged the conventions of her day. In this sense, her stand for
herself was a stand for all women.