Women's Roles in the Middle AgesInformation about women in this truly fascinating period from 500 to 1500 is in great demand and has been a challenge for historians to uncover. Bardsley has mined a wide range of primary sources, from noblewomen's writing, court rolls, chivalric literature, laws and legal documents, to archeology and artwork. This fresh survey provides readers with an excellent understanding of how women high and low fared in terms of religion, work, family, law, culture, and politics and public life. Even though medieval women were divided by social class, religion, age, marital status, place and period, they were all subject to an overarching patriarchal structure and sometimes could transcend their inferior status. Numerous examples of these exceptional women and their words are included. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 51
... households . When a woman earned a few extra pennies , her family might be able to afford an extra loaf of bread or basket of eggs . This work , however , was only available occasionally and was thus hard to build into the household ...
... household servants.26 Service in the household of an artisan's family or a merchant's family provided secure employment , but the hours were long and the conditions often harsh . Girls often entered service in their early teens , or ...
... household on a day - to - day level . On her belt , the lady of the noble household often carried a set of keys that gave her access to storehouses , the treasury , linen closets , the larders , and the spice chest . In addition to ...
Contents
Women and Religion | 27 |
Women and Work | 59 |
Women and the Family | 91 |
Copyright | |
5 other sections not shown