Women in England the Middle Ages

Looks at various sorts and conditions of women from c500 to c1500 AD, focusing on common experiences over their life-cycle, and the contrasts derived from their position in the social hierarchy. This book shows how, in bringing up their children and balancing family and work, medieval women faced many of the problems of their modern counterparts. "Women in England in the Middle Ages" looks at 'all sorts and conditions' of women from c.500 to c.1500 A.D., concentrating on common experiences over their life-cycle, as daughters, wives and mothers, and the contrasts derived from their position in the social hierarchy. Most women lived out their lives in their own village or town, but queens and noblewomen exercised power and patronage locally and at the royal court. Religion played a significant part in women's lives; some became nuns and abbesses, while the majority were involved in their own parish and community. Inevitably, women's lives changed over time, but, in bringing up their children and balancing family and work, medieval women faced many of the problems of their modern counterparts.