Elena: I was born into a noble family so I received a lot of education as a child. I learned several languages, mathematics, astronomy, theology and philosophy. I showed a talent for reasoning so my father pushed me and I pushed myself to learn even more.
Kathryn: What role did mentors play in developing your talents and interests?
Elena: As I said before, my father always pushed me to develop my talents and interests. He was the one who insisted that I get my doctorate from Padua.
Kathryn: What was the state of knowledge that existed in the areas of study when you entered the field?
Elena: Well, I was a lecturer of mathematics and theology at the University of Padua and other academies. During the Enlightenment era, there was a revolution in theology. Before the Enlightenment, theology was controlled by the church and the royal families. The church said everyone had to believe in God and obey his rules and the kings said they were given the right to rule by God. People started to question all of this when the Enlightenment came. They thought more about reasoning than superstition. As for mathematics, the Enlightenment led thinkers to use math to make advances in science and other fields.
Kathryn: What were your major accomplishments, the methodologies used and principles of science that were upheld?
Elena: My biggest accomplishment is probably being the first woman in the world to be awarded a doctorate degree. I was also a respected member of several academies in Europe. I devoted almost all of my time to education and charity work. I never even married.
Kathryn: What was the state of the academy of science in your time and how did it affect your work?
Elena: In my time the academy of science was very controlled by the Catholic church and was not accepting of women. They did not allow me to get a doctorate in theology because I was a woman. I had to get my degree in philosophy instead and that was still difficult.
Kathryn: What were your limitations as scientist or as a person?
Elena: My only limitation as a scientist was the fact that I was a woman. This kept me from getting a doctorate degree in theology. As a person, I was seen as very intelligent, talented and charitable. I didn't have many limitations.
Kathryn: What were the prevelant philosophical and/or religious beliefs in your time?
Elena: Christianity and its philosophies was spread all over Europe in my time and the Catholic church was very powerful. Things started to change, though. The Enlightenment thinkers challenged all of this.
Kathryn: How did your beliefs fit with or differ from the beliefs of the time?
Elena: I was a dedicated Christian. I devoted my life not only to learning but also to God's work. I spent a lot of time servicing the sick and poor as my work for God.
Kathryn: What major cultural, economic, political situations were taking place at the time of your work?
Elena: I lived during the beginning of the Enlightenment. Europe was mostly made up of monarchies and the Catholic church had enormous influence over the culture and politics of the time. In these monarchies, royalty, nobles, clergy members and land owners had all the rights and wealth. Peasants lived in poverty. When the Enlightenment began, the Enlightenment thinkers challenged the authority of the church and monarchs. They believed in the naturals rights of man and the right of the people to choose their government. They pushed the large lower class to fight against the small upper class.
Kathryn: What artists, musicians, and writers were working at the same time and in the same country as you?
Elena: I worked in Italy in the mid to late 1600's as did artists such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Alessandro Algardi, Pietro da Cortona, and Salvator Rosa and musicians such as Antonio Vivaldi and Arcangelo Corelli and writers such as Vincenzo da Filicaja and Giovanni Vincenzo Gravina.
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"Antonio Vivaldi." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Arcangelo Corelli." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
Beck, Roger B., Linda Black, Larry S. Krieger, Phillip C. Naylor, and Dahia Ibo. Shabaka. Modern World History Patterns of Interaction. Evanston, Ill.: McDougal Littell, 2003. Print.
"Dott. Elena Lucrezia Cornaro-Piscopia." Italian Culture and History. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Elena Cornaro Piscopia." Women's History - Comprehensive Women's History Research Guide. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia." Agnes Scott College - A Private, Liberal Arts Women's College in Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Gian Lorenzo Bernini." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Giovanni Vincenzo Gravina." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Helena Lucretia Cornaro Piscopia , First Woman Doctorate in Philosophy." Women Philosophers Web Site. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Pietro Da Cortona." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
"Salvator Rosa." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Apr. 2010. .
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