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. |
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... lords . In doing so , they became the lord's vassals . Vassals owed lords military service but , as time went on , various other dues were required as well . They had to serve in their lords ' courts , house and feed their lords if the ...
... lord or lady . In addition , they were required to work on their lord or lady's land for several days each week ( an obligation known as week - work ) . On the other hand , serfs had some security in that their lords or ladies rented ...
... lord's governance . Occasionally , manorial lords could become quite directive about whom their serfs should marry , but evidence suggests that their wishes were not always followed . When the lord of the manor of Horsham ( England ) ...
Contents
Women and Religion | 27 |
Women and Work | 59 |
Women and the Family | 91 |
Copyright | |
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