Women in Early Medieval Europe, 400–1100
Women in Early Medieval Europe, 400–1100
£31.00
GBPThis is a history of the early European middle ages through the eyes of women, combining the rich literature of women's history with original research in the context of mainstream history and traditional chronology. The book begins at the end of the Roman empire and ends with the start of the long eleventh century, when women and men set out to test the old frontiers of Europe. The book recreates the lives of ordinary women but also tells personal stories of individuals. Each chapter also questions an assumption of medieval historiography, and uses the few documents produced by women themselves, along with archaeological evidence, art, and the written records of medieval men, to tell of women, their experiences and ideas, and their relations with men. It covers the continent and its exotic edges, such as Iceland, Ireland, and Iberia; looking at women Christian and non-Christian alike.
- Analyses simultaneously women's history and the historiography of the European middle ages
- Uses evidence and methods from several disciplines, including art history, archaeology, literature, feminist theory, and anthropology as well as history
- Includes discussion of regions and social groups not normally included in medieval histories of women
Reviews & endorsements
'Lisa Bitel has written a polemical book …'. Journal of Continuity and Change
Product details
October 2002Paperback
9780521597739
348 pages
217 × 139 × 23 mm
0.469kg
18 b/w illus. 2 maps
Available
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Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. Gender and landscapes
- 2. Invasions, migrations, and barbarian queens
- 3. The theory and practice of religion
- 4. Survival by kinship, marriage, and motherhood
- 5. The take-off: mobility and economic opportunity
- 6. Conclusion: concerning famous women before and after 1100.
