TED-Ed: History's "worst" nun | Theresa A. Yugar

Juana Ramirez de Asbaje, later known as Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, was a brilliant scholar in 17th-century Mexico. Despite societal constraints, she pursued knowledge through her grandfather's library and later dazzled the Royal Court with her literary works. Choosing the convent over marriage, she continued her intellectual pursuits but faced conflict with church authorities. Her legacy as a pioneering feminist endures, celebrated in literature and on currency.

What challenges did Juana Ramirez de Asbaje face during her interrogation by the panel of theologians, jurists, and mathematicians?

How did Juana's family background influence her education and opportunities?

What was the significance of Juana's poem 'Foolish Men' in the context of her time?

In what ways did Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz contribute to literature and philosophy during her time in the convent?

What were the consequences of Sor Juana's outspokenness regarding women's intellect and her eventual conflict with the church?