Problem: What were the institutional rules, organisational forms, ecclesiastical legislation, etc that was voted at the church councils that profoundly impacted women roles in the church from 300 to 1500CE?'
Roman political and legal practices profoundly and irrevocably shaped the Church's organisational patterns, significantly impacting women's roles. The institutional rules administering the organisation of the Church evolved in the political context of the Roman Empire. This situation was accelerated by the legalisation of the Church under Constantine I (306- 337) and the subsequent adoption of Christianity as the empire's official religion in the year 395. These organisational forms were validated and codified in ecclesiastical legislation that was voted on at early church councils. This legislation (formal rules), along with ancient customs, interpretations, and applications of religious legislation (informal rules), comprises the bulk of the church organisation's institutional framework.