Women's Lives in Medieval Europe: A Sourcebook

by Emilie Amt (Editor)

Praise for the first 'It is difficult to imagine another book in which one could find all this diverse material, and no doubt Amt's collection, in its richness, and in its genuine clarity and simplicity will takes prominent place in our expanded, diversified medieval curriculum, a curriculum that takes class, gender, and ethnicity as central to an understanding of world cultural history.' - The Medieval Review Long considered to be a definitive and truly groundbreaking collection of sources, Women’s Lives in Medieval Europe uniquely presents the everyday lives and experiences of women in the Middle Ages. This indispensible text has now been thoroughly updated and expanded to reflect new research, and includes previously unavailable source material. This new edition includes expanded sections on marriage and sexuality, and on peasant women and townswomen, as well as a new section on women and the law. There are brief introductions both to the period and to the individual documents, study questions to accompany each reading, a glossary of terms and a fully updated bibliography. Working within a multi-cultural framework, the book focuses not just on the Christian majority, but also present material about women in minority groups in Europe, such as Jews, Muslims, and those considered to be heretics. Incorporating both the laws, regulations and religious texts that shaped the way women lived their lives, and personal narratives by and about medieval women, the book is unique in examining women’s lives through the lens of daily activities, and in doing so as far as possible through the voices of women themselves.

Genres: History, Medieval, Nonfiction, Medieval History, Womens, Womens Studies, Feminism

296 pages, Paperback

First published December 21, 1992

About the author

Emilie Amt is the Hildegarde Pilgram professor of history at Hood College in Frederick (MD).

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in how women lived in the middle ages, or at least how their lives are portrayed in contemporary documents this sourcebook is perfect. It has clear citations and gives reasons for using the documents chosen. It has an array of documents from various cultures eg The Church, the Latin based cultures and the Germanic cultures plus some from the less numerous but still influential such as the Jewish peoples. It is well laid out so that information can be easily accessed. Their are clear attempts to let women speak for themselves wherever possible. Each section ends with suggested questions. There is an extensive bibliography for wider reading.

In short this is an excellent reference book for those who have an interest in this area.

Highly recommended.

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked it up I thought it would have more commentary about each section. Each section and each entry does have a few paragraphs giving explanation and context the book is otherwise primary sources of the medieval time period.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sources cited – check

Material organized in a clear manner by time, place and subject – check

Full background explained rather than make assumptions – check

Questions marks highlighted rather than filled in with fanfiction – check

Finding new ways to examine overlooked people in history – check

Tantalizing look into a world both foreign and yet filled with recognizable human emotions – check, check, check!

[Kit Alloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone truly interested in medieval life. The information is fascinating. It comes a huge diversity of sources--legal records, autobiographies, coroner's records. Although I would have loved the editor to include more information to help the reader put this information in context, the excellent bibliography points the way toward a wealth of sources.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm using this as the sourcebook for a course on Women in the Middle Ages. It's well arranged and offers wonderfully readable translations. One weakness is that the readings feel heavily sourced from western and northern Europe.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primary sources are hard work, obviously, but I am sometimes too grumpy to trust others' filters.

[Kathleen Marguerite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative, but not easy reading if you aren't used to primary sorces and dry scholarly works. I do have to go bck and finish this one; I'd wait untill then for the final rating.

[Hildegart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good sourcebook for documents from the middle ages related to women. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in women in the middle ages.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful book. Sources well cited. Gives a look at women of all classes, throughout Europe.

[Ginger Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dnf