Women in the Middle Ages: The Lives of Real Women in a Vibrant Age of Transition
Nov 2010 · Harper Collins
4.6star
5 reviewsreport
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300
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About this ebook
An ambitious work that traces the stories and fates of women in Medieval Europe over the course of a millennium. “A wealth of solid information.” —The New York Times
Medieval history is often written as a series of battles and territorial shifts. But the essential contributions of women during this period have been too often relegated to the dustbin of history. In Women in the Middle Ages, Frances and Joseph Gies reclaim this lost history, in a lively historical survey that charts the evolution of women’s roles throughout the period, and profiles eight individual women in depth. We learn of Hildegarde of Bingen, an abbess who was a noted composer and founded two monasteries; of Eleanor de Montfort, a 13th-century Princess of Wales who was captured by Edward I and held as a political prisoner for three years; and women of somewhat more modest means, such as the spouse of an Italian merchant, and a peasant’s wife.
Drawing upon their various stories, talented historians Frances and Joseph Gies—whose books were used by George R. R. Martin in his research for Game of Thrones—offer a kaleidoscopic view of the lives of women throughout this tumultuous period.
“[The Gieses] specialize in making the Middle Ages accessible to nonspecialists.” —The New Yorker
Medieval history is often written as a series of battles and territorial shifts. But the essential contributions of women during this period have been too often relegated to the dustbin of history. In Women in the Middle Ages, Frances and Joseph Gies reclaim this lost history, in a lively historical survey that charts the evolution of women’s roles throughout the period, and profiles eight individual women in depth. We learn of Hildegarde of Bingen, an abbess who was a noted composer and founded two monasteries; of Eleanor de Montfort, a 13th-century Princess of Wales who was captured by Edward I and held as a political prisoner for three years; and women of somewhat more modest means, such as the spouse of an Italian merchant, and a peasant’s wife.
Drawing upon their various stories, talented historians Frances and Joseph Gies—whose books were used by George R. R. Martin in his research for Game of Thrones—offer a kaleidoscopic view of the lives of women throughout this tumultuous period.
“[The Gieses] specialize in making the Middle Ages accessible to nonspecialists.” —The New Yorker
Ratings and reviews
4.6
5 reviews
Sally Smith
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May 20, 2016
I bought this in paperback, full price, years ago and it was worth every penny. Getting this as an ebook (it's 99c the day I write this). It's not the history that bored you in school. More like the authors are just telling you stories. There are chapters on the lives of real women like Abbess Hildegard of Bingen (still famous for her mystical writing), Queen Blanche of Castile (a VERY tough and scary lady), etc. Also chapters on the life of merchant's wives, peasant women, and others. The same authors wrote several other books about the Middle Ages. "Cathedral, Forge, and Waterwheel" surprised me with how much technology actually existed then.
JENNIFER GRAZIANO
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May 27, 2025
Origin of the alphabet; number line, computer is the same place. There isn't a calendar without a programmer; different ones in society are for companies to supply basic utilities; motor vehicles, food clothes & shelter. Computer programs give the answers to outstanding questions; humans do not. They also drive all artificial moving objects; humans do not. One program designs all the building and a different one does cars; the program includes after they are built schedules for them and us. Cameras are a derivative of computer separate from video recorder for unreal pictures and photograph obstructing justice to disappear or vanish includes video tapes & DVD's
WareforCoin
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June 4, 2016
The book not only sheds light on the lives of the rich and powerful of the time, but on every level of social class, and even dispels some misconceptions you might have had. (I bet you thought women were kept out of medieval workers guilds before reading this book!)
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