Humility served as a social tool and power source in the late Middle Ages

Historian Silvia Negri and her team are investigating how the concept of humility functioned as a social force between 1250 and 1500.

Negri argues that humility was not just a private religious sentiment but a public virtue that shaped gender roles, political hierarchies, and urban life. While monks practiced it visibly, the ideal of a humble life also guided the behavior of queens, merchants, and the rising urban classes.

The research shows that humility provided a framework for navigating social status. A 12th century biblical commentary, the Glossa Ordinaria, categorized humility into three levels: bowing to a superior, bowing to an equal, and bowing to a subordinate. These distinctions helped individuals navigate complex social structures.

For example, a wealthy merchant in 14th century Siena, Giovanni Colombini, abandoned his high social standing to live in radical poverty and perform manual labor like cleaning a government palace after being inspired by a story of a holy woman. Women also utilized humility to gain moral authority. Negri points to the Beguines, a group of women across Europe who lived pious lives without taking formal vows.

These women acted as coaches for the uneducated, teaching people how to examine their consciences and recognize sins. Furthermore, the artistic shift toward the Madonna dell'Umiltà, which depicted the Virgin Mary as a humble mother rather than an enthroned queen, provided a form of empowerment for women by elevating motherhood as a sacred role. While humility was often a tool for social navigation, it also carried a demand for recognition.

Negri notes that public displays of humility, such as foot washing or self-flagellation, were often intended to attract attention or secure favors. The historian also notes that these practices had parallels in Jewish and Muslim communities, though cultural differences remained. For instance, Florentine diplomats offended a sultan in Cairo by covering gifts with plain cloth, as he expected the splendor of the gifts to be visible rather than hidden by an attitude of modesty.