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出版者:Univ of Chicago Pr

作者:Judith M·Bennett

出品人:

页数:344

译者:

出版时间:

价格:17.5

装帧:Pap

isbn号码:9780226042480

丛书系列:

图书标签:

• Middle Ages
• Women's History
• Labor History
• Social History
• Medieval Studies
• Gender Studies
• Work
• Sisters
• Europe
• Medieval Women

Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages: A Life's Journey This meticulously researched volume, Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages, invites you on an immersive journey into the multifaceted lives of medieval women, moving beyond the often-simplified portrayals of cloistered nuns or passive wives. Through a detailed examination of primary sources, including monastic chronicles, guild records, personal correspondence, and legal documents, this book reconstructs the vibrant and complex realities faced by women from diverse social strata across various European regions during the medieval period. The narrative begins by establishing the foundational social and religious structures that shaped women's experiences. It delves into the prevailing theological perspectives on womanhood, exploring how these ideas influenced societal expectations and the opportunities available to women. However, the book firmly grounds its analysis in the lived realities, demonstrating how women actively navigated and often subverted these expectations. A significant portion of Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages is dedicated to the lives of women within religious communities. Far from presenting a monolithic image of contemplative seclusion, the text highlights the diverse roles women played within convents. It explores their contributions as scholars, scribes, abbesses who managed extensive estates, healers, and artisans responsible for producing exquisite illuminated manuscripts, intricate embroidery, and devotional objects. The book offers intimate glimpses into the internal governance of these communities, the spiritual practices that sustained them, and the intellectual and artistic flourishing that often occurred within their walls. We encounter the influential abbesses who wielded considerable temporal and spiritual authority, the devoted sisters who dedicated their lives to prayer and service, and the lay sisters who contributed essential labor to the convent's upkeep. Simultaneously, Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages shines a light on the vast majority of medieval women who lived outside convent walls, engaged in the world of work and community. The book systematically examines the economic activities of women across a spectrum of professions. This includes women involved in agriculture, the backbone of the medieval economy, where they participated in planting, harvesting, animal husbandry, and the processing of agricultural products. The text explores the vital role of women in the burgeoning urban centers, detailing their involvement in various crafts and trades. We learn about the skilled women who worked as weavers, dyers, tailors, bakers, brewers, and poulterers, often forming distinct guilds or working within family businesses. The book also investigates the less visible, yet equally crucial, contributions of women in service roles, such as domestic servants, wet nurses, and midwives, highlighting their essential contributions to the functioning of households and communities. Beyond their economic roles, Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages emphasizes the social networks and community structures that supported and defined women's lives. It explores the significance of familial relationships, sisterhoods (both religious and secular), and informal women's groups in providing emotional support, practical assistance, and collective action. The book examines how women participated in community rituals, celebrations, and religious festivals, contributing to the vibrant social fabric of medieval society. Furthermore, it addresses the legal rights and responsibilities of women, discussing their ability to inherit property, engage in legal proceedings, and manage their own affairs, albeit within the patriarchal constraints of the era. A key strength of this volume lies in its nuanced portrayal of agency and resistance. While acknowledging the limitations imposed by social norms and legal structures, the book demonstrates how women creatively asserted their influence, pursued their interests, and shaped their destinies. This agency manifested in various ways, from carefully negotiated marriages and astute management of household resources to the subtle ways women influenced religious and community decision-making. The text also considers instances of more overt challenges to established authority, though always grounded in the specific historical context. Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages also delves into the evolving understanding of female piety and spirituality. It analyzes the ways in which women expressed their faith, from personal devotion and participation in popular religious movements to their contributions to devotional literature and hagiography. The book explores the lives of influential female mystics and visionaries, and the impact of their spiritual experiences on broader religious discourse. The geographical scope of the book is broad, drawing examples from England, France, Germany, Italy, and beyond, offering a comparative perspective on the diversity of women's experiences across different cultural and political landscapes. The chronological coverage spans centuries, allowing for an examination of how women's roles and opportunities evolved throughout the medieval period, from the early Middle Ages through the High Middle Ages and into the late medieval period. In essence, Sisters and Workers in the Middle Ages offers a comprehensive and deeply humanizing account of medieval women. It moves beyond generalizations to reveal the individual stories, the collective experiences, and the profound contributions of women who were simultaneously devout sisters within religious orders and industrious workers in the wider world. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone seeking a richer, more accurate understanding of the medieval past and the indispensable, often overlooked, role of women within it. It is a testament to the resilience, ingenuity, and multifaceted lives of women who shaped the fabric of medieval society.

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