A History of Their Own: Women in Europe from Prehistory to the Present, Vol. 1

by Bonnie S. Anderson, Judith P. Zinsser

This classic two-volume history is an exciting and revolutionary look at women's history from prehistoric times to the present. Its unique organization focuses on the developments, achievements, and changes in women's roles in society. Rather than examining women's history as an inevitable progression of events along a strict timeline, this text is organized within a loose chronology, with chapters focusing on women's place and function in society. This revised edition provides a new introduction, an updated epilogue on women's lives in Europe since 1988, and a completely revised bibliography that includes recent scholarship. A History of Their Own restores women to the historical record, brings their history into focus, and provides models of female action and heroism. Lively and engaging, this new edition takes readers on a fascinating journey through women's history and the changing roles they have played. In addition it is an ideal text for general courses in women's studies
and women's history and more specialized courses focusing on women in European history.
Volume One covers women's history from the prehistoric period to the seventeenth century. It includes topics such as the treatment of and attitudes about women during earliest recorded history; the alternating forces of empowerment and subordination imposed on women by ancient religions and the emergence of Christianity; peasant women's daily experiences of childbirth, family life, and field labor; women's religious lives; and the contrast between the lives of noblewomen and the lives of townswomen in early modern Europe.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Feminism, Womens, Gender Studies, Womens Studies, 20th Century

654 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and in depth history of women in Europe. Three stars, though, because some of the parts dealing with literature were incorrect. Aphrodite was not pro-Greek in the Trojan War, for instance.

[Ronald Lett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be on the shelf of every student of history. While it tends to reduce at times to a list of dry events, there are many invaluable and hard to find anecdotes that are seldom found in mainstream history tomes.

[Joanna Elmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of the best textbooks/history books I’ve ever read. Great sourcing and organization of information, and great writing too. Indispensable.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start off by saying Judith Zinsser (the book's co-author) was one of the best professors I had at university. I took three classes (undergrad and master's level) with her and she was my advisor on a project translating from 18th century French. In the years I was her student, I don't remember ever being aware that she had written this book – but then I found it on my mother’s bookshelf. And now, finally, I’ve read it (well, Volume 1).

A History of Their Own is a pretty massive survey focused mostly on Western European women throughout the medieval and early modern periods. I wasn’t as keen on the first section which flies high and fast over 1000s of years (as the writers admit), but the rest, covering about 800-1700 AD is really wonderful. Rather than simply going chronologically, they divide their period into discrete estate-based chunks: Women of the Fields, Women of the Churches, Women of the Castles and Manors, and Women of the Walled Towns. I like this because they provide layer upon layer of rich, overlapping detail about daily life, work and the inevitable horrors visited upon women by men, disease and premodern precarity, with loads and loads of superb quotations. The interesting thing is it’s the disruption of the status quo (men off to war, new religious movements, becoming a widow) that again and again creates opportunities for women – until men close ranks to assert a new one.

But the book creates a vivid picture of not just what women have been denied, but of the fullness of women’s place in history, in fields and farms and churches, bearing children and raising families, writing and rioting, running castles and businesses – the authors offer European women “a written memory of themselves”. Definitely recommended!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a terrific book about the lives and circumstances that have too often been passed over as being not important or dull because there are no gallant knights, etc. It will make your blood boil at times and now I never use the term "rule of thumb" - the max diameter of a rod or stick used to hit one's wife was not to exceed the diameter of one's thumb. Very informative and a good read.

[Lockyear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of women's lives in Europe. If you aren't already, it will light your women's lib fires!

[Cybele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, comprehensive history book for women. Read it 2x for various writing projects....

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

First volume of an eye-opening history of the treatment of women in Europe.

Full of various accounts cobbled from official records and personal accounts alike, this is a fascinating book of how women have been (mis)treated in Europe through the ages. Honestly, to read this is to become enraged at what our fellow human beings have had to endure over the years simply for having been born with a vagina rather than a penis. Reading this makes one thankful that all our mothers, and grandmothers, and aunts before us somehow prevailed regardless of all the crap that was thrown in their way.

Life in Europe up until very recently - historically speaking - was very short and brutish for most, but this book very clearly explains how much more difficult it was for women.

I'd recommend this to anyone who is a human being who cares about our shared history.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent narrative history of women in Europe from the 8th through the 16th century. I especially liked the focus on "constants" vs. "exceptions" to women's lives geographically and chronologically.

[Joni Greenwell Bycroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Organizing European history according to womens lives and impact on history. It made me proud at the ingenuity and accomplishments of women. But it also made me sad because women still only did what men allowed them to do.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at women's history. Very thorough and detailed, excellent for historical research. There were a few errors, but on the whole it got 4 stars because it was so informative.

[Bob Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

v. I and v. II

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

I make a promise to myself to read at least 100 pages in every book I attempt, to give it a chance. I found the first 100 pages to be rather dry, academic, boring, and not particularly interesting. I wanted to find what I was reading interesting. I'm interested in learning more about the roles and treatment of women in Europe throughout history, which is why I picked up this book in the first place. 'A History of Their Own', unfortunately, left me wanting to skip ahead and find where it started to get interesting, but I couldn't seem to locate that spot in my skimmings.

[Brideshead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro serio y riguroso que trata de llenar las lagunas de la historia. La organización de los capítulos es original pero es muy adecuada para presentar las aportaciones de las mujeres a la historia y las dificultades que han encontrado.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doing a quick read of the first volume again. Looking for greek history in modern day Italy and Turkey.

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting for sure but a bit dated in its research and views.

[Lance Grabmiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing surprising or especially revelatory to me here but times have changed and it is a monumental feat of academic prowess. I wish some of the repetitions were handled a bit better.