Medieval Sourcesonline from Manchester University Press

Medievalportal

Women in medieval times

| general | women and spirituality | key women | women writers | women and the family | women and the law | women and work | working in the home | constructs of masculinity and femininity | further sources |

General
Medieval women's studies guide to resources
Primary sources, bibliographies and resources for teaching (Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies)
Women's roles in medieval times
Writing, politics, religion, peasant women, noblewomen, women and the home and more (ORB)
Medieval women
The life and work of medieval women, further resources and a select bibliography (The Labyrinth: Resources for Medieval Studies)
Women in medieval Europe
Great noblewomen, women writers, saints, monasticism, feminism, oppression and more (Internet Women's History Sourcebook)

Women and spirituality
Saints and women in religious vocations
Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Siena, Hildegarde de Bingen, Marguerite Poret, Roswitha of Gandersheim (Millersville University)
Holy women of Byzantine
Ten saints' lives in translation (edited by Alice-Mary Talbot)
Byzantine monastic foundation documents
A complete translation of the Surviving Founders Typika and Testament (edited by John Thomas and Angela Constantinides Hero)
The Life of Saint Matrona of Perge d.c.510
Saint and Abbess of Constantinople (ORB)
Gregory of Nyssa: The Life of Macrina
Translated by W.K. Lowther Clarke (Internet Medieval Source Book)
Magic and witchcraft
Magic in the Middle Ages: a Preliminary Discussion edited by Dr Karen Louise Jolly (ORB)
The Beguines
Well-referenced feature on the Beguine movement examines the rise and fall of the Beguines, their spirituality, and relevance to modern society (College of St Benedict, St John's University)
Tales of the Virgin
Sermon stories by three writers (ORB)
Women's religious work
Resources for the study of women's religious communities (Matrix, University of Kansas)
Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179)
Known as "Sybil of the Rhine", Hildegard produced major works of theology and visionary writings (ORB)

Key Women
Saint Joan of Arc
A site dedicated to her life, era and documents including scans of original manuscripts, transcripts from her trials, her battleflags, armour and much more (site maintained by Allen Williamson)
International Joan of Arc Society
Related texts, bibliography, images, film and music clips and Joan of Arc's travels complete with maps
St Joan of Arc
A brief historical introduction with related links (Catholic Encyclopaedia)
Saint Joan of Arc
A detailed site containing a timeline, letters, her signature, poetry, hymns and other related links
St Hildegarde Biography of St Hildegarde with related links (Catholic Encyclopaedia)
The Maccabees
The Death of the Maccabees from Fourth Book of Maccabees (ORB)
St Mary of Egypt
The Life of our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt (ORB)
Anna Comnena (1083-1153)
Byzantine historian of the First Crusade (Women's World History Curriculum)
Eleanor of Aquitaine
One of the most powerful and fascinating personalities of feudal Europe (Women's World History Curriculum)
Shagrat (or Shajarat) al-Dur
Taking on the title of Sultan, Eleanor regrouped the Egyptian army to take Damietta back from the Frankish Crusaders (Women's World History Curriculum)
Melisende (1105-60)
Queen of Jerusalem (Women's World History Curriculum)

Information and documents on other key figures can be found in the Internet Women's History Sourcebook

Women writers
Bibliography of works by and about women writers of the Middle Ages
(The Robbins Library, University of Rochester)
Women writers of the Middle Ages
Queen Matilda, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Christine de Pizan, Marie de France, Maria de Ventadorn, the Paston Letters and Papers (linked from the e-text library, University of Virginia)
The Plays of Roswitha, c.930/40-1002
Germany's first poetess (Internet Medieval Sourcebook)
Hildegarde of Bingen, c.1098-1179
Works of music, art and literature by Bingen
Christine de Pizan Database
Computer text files of all the writings of de Pizan with bibliography (University of Edinburgh)
Christine de Pizan, c. 1364-1430
Her life story with related texts (Sunshine for Women)
Julian of Norwich
A detailed account of her life and work, with related links (The Julian Library Portfolio)
Julian of Norwich c.1342 - 1416
Her life, works, essays, a bibliography and related links (The Anthology of Middle English Literature)
Women writers of the Middle Ages
Useful set of links (Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Women and the family
Medieval domestic life
Infanticide, humanism, marriage, work, clothes, diet, crazy witches and more (Millersville University)
Dominion and domination of the gentle sex: the city of women
The day-to-day lives of Medieval Women of all classes and callings highlighting the changing roles of medieval women (Think Quest)
Working women in the Middle Ages
Covering peasant working women, urban working women, and women involved in healing and nursing, with illustrations (Millersville University)
Medieval women's Headdress and Costume
Illustrations of Medieval dress with additional links (The Costumer's Manifesto)
Medieval culture
Clothing, food, entertainment, games, marriage and more (Medieval Culture)
The economic fate of a widow in the medieval period
by Elisabeth Carnell (Western Michigan University)
Widowhood
by Janelle Johnson (Millersville University)

Women and the Law
Anglo-Saxon Women: More than 'Frithuwebbas'
Explaining the matrimonial rights of Medieval Women (The Newsletter of Anglo-Saxon Studies at The University of Georgia)
Medieval law and politics
with details on marriage, witchcraft, common law, the Magna Carta and more (Millersville University)
Women and medieval law
England thirteenth to seventeenth century (Millersville University)

Women and work
Working women in the Middle Ages
Detailed article on women's work by Mary Czarnecki (Millersville University)
Women left behind Article discussing medieval women who took on responsibility for property and wealth when their husbands were away fighting the Crusades (Women's World History Curriculum)
The second group of trades
The making and selling of food and beverages by Mary Czarnecki (Millersville University)
Her Pride and Attempts to start a business the book of Margery Kempe
Poverty and women of the Middle Ages by Laura A. Reynolds (Millersville University)
Women and guilds in the Middle Ages
by Ben Stiles (Millersville University)
Eight-Hour Shift Versus A Guild Worker's Day
by Christy M. Wincovitch (Millersville University)
What kind of regulations did the guilds have?
by Mary Czarnecki (Millersville University)
A little bit about wet nurses
by Christy M. Wincovitch (Millersville University)
Prostitutes in the Middle Ages
A choice between God or husband by Mary Ann Weaver (Millersville University)
Bibliography on women in Byzantium
A detailed bibliography of primary and secondary sources concerning medieval women and work (The College of Wooster)

Working in the home
The treasure of the city of ladies
An excerpt from a medieval guide explaining to women how they should conduct their work in the home (Millersville University)
Woman's contact with the outside world
by Sarah Weber (Millersville University)
Maids
How did men view the work which their wives were responsible for? (Millersville University)
The housewife in the Middle Ages
What responsibilities were placed upon a housewife in the Middle Ages? (Millersville University)

Constructs of masculinity and femininity
Constructions of sexuality and gender
General, legal, theological and subcultures (Internet Medieval Sourcebook)
Internet women's history sourcebook
Links to issues of feminism, sexuality, men's roles and more (Internet Medieval Sourcebook)

Further sources
Materials for the study of women and gender in the ancient world
An academic site with essays, bibliography and related links (University of Kentucky)
Catholic Encyclopaedia
A detailed site with alphabetic searches
Medieval Feminist Index
Covering journal articles, book reviews, and essays about women, sexuality and gender during the Middle Ages
Medieval Women Websites
Links to sites on various medieval women issues (University of Wisconsin)

| general | women and spirituality | key women | women writers | women and the family | women and the law | women and work | working in the home | constructs of masculinity and femininity | further sources |

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