Authors: Mavis E. Mate, Maurice Kirby
ISBN-13: 9780521587334, ISBN-10: 0521587336
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date Published: August 1999
Edition: 1st Edition
Examination of the evidence and major issues and debates deciding the position of women in medieval society.
Mate (medieval history, U. of Oregon) begins her introduction: "More has been written about medieval women in the last fifteen years than in the previous one hundred and fifty." Here she looks at the ways in which historians have seen the position of women in medieval society from the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon period to the end of the 15th century. She focuses on legal rights, women's contribution to the economy, and political and religious power, as well as changes over time, and the existence or non-existence of a "golden age." Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
1 | Introduction | 1 |
2 | Early medieval society (c. 600-1250) | 5 |
Religious and political life | 6 | |
Women in the economy | 13 | |
The legal rights of women | 16 | |
3 | The late Middle Ages (1250-1530) | 27 |
Economic activities of women | 27 | |
Political power, education and religious experience | 61 | |
The legal position of late medieval women | 78 | |
Conclusion | 96 | |
References | 101 | |
Index | 112 |