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 89
... husbands for the better . She advised artisans ' wives to ensure that husbands ' income ex- ceeded their expenses and suggested that they warn their husbands against taking on commissions that could end up losing them money.29 Laborers ...
... husbands whose wills reduce the amount of money given to their widows if they remarry . A husband making such a stipulation may , in fact , be seeking to ensure that his love for his wife is matched by her lifelong loyalty . However ...
... husbands were honest and hard- working . But authority was another story . Authority , defined as “ recognized and ... husbands . While noblewomen and queens sometimes found themselves standing in for their husbands ( or , had their ...
Contents
Women and Religion | 27 |
Women and Work | 59 |
Women and the Family | 91 |
Copyright | |
5 other sections not shown