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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... society . Exceptions to the rule , such as the beautiful Queen Medb who battles the warrior Cúchulainn in the Irish Táin Bó Cúailnge , were brought low by their own biological makeup : Medb , who is menstruating during the decisive ...
... society was also , despite its decline , based around cities and urban life . Compared with women in other ancient societies , Roman women usu- ally had more rights and privileges . They were not confined to the home ( as some Greek ...
... society was diminished , and her wergild was the same as that of ordinary Frankish men . Women in Frankish society , therefore , were cer- tainly valued , but they were prized largely for their reproductive capaci- ties . Salic Law ...
Contents
Women and Religion | 27 |
Women and Work | 59 |
Women and the Family | 91 |
Copyright | |
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