A History of Their Own: Women in Europe from Prehistory to the Present, Vol. 1

This classic two-volume history is an exciting and revolutionary look at women's history from prehistoric times to the present. Its unique organization focuses on the developments, achievements, and changes in women's roles in society. Rather than examining women's history as an inevitable progression of events along a strict timeline, this text is organized within a loose chronology, with chapters focusing on women's place and function in society. This revised edition provides a new introduction, an updated epilogue on women's lives in Europe since 1988, and a completely revised bibliography that includes recent scholarship. A History of Their Own restores women to the historical record, brings their history into focus, and provides models of female action and heroism. Lively and engaging, this new edition takes readers on a fascinating journey through women's history and the changing roles they have played. In addition it is an ideal text for general courses in women's studies and women's history and more specialized courses focusing on women in European history. Volume One covers women's history from the prehistoric period to the seventeenth century. It includes topics such as the treatment of and attitudes about women during earliest recorded history; the alternating forces of empowerment and subordination imposed on women by ancient religions and the emergence of Christianity; peasant women's daily experiences of childbirth, family life, and field labor; women's religious lives; and the contrast between the lives of noblewomen and the lives of townswomen in early modern Europe. I. TRADITIONS INHERITED ATTITUDES ABOUT WOMEN FROM THE CENTURIES BEFORE 800 A.D. 1.Buried Traditions: The Question of Origins 3 Archaeological Evidence — Biological Evidence — Psychological Evidence — Anthropological Evidence — Written Evidence 2. Inherited Traditions: The Principal Influences 24 3. Traditions Subordinating Women 26 Women 's Approved Roles — Women 's Dishonorable Roles: Slave, Prostitute, and Concubine — Misogyny 4. Traditions Empowering Women 52 Worship of Goddesses — Women Warriors — Women in Power: Queens and Empresses — Women of Wealth — Educated and Artistic Women 5. The Effects of Christianity 67 Beliefs and Practices Empowering Women — Beliefs and Practices Subordinating Women II. WOMEN OF THE FIELDS SUSTAINING THE GENERATIONS I. The Constants of the Peasant Woman's World: The Ninth to the Twentieth Centuries 87 The Life — The Landscape — The Year's Activities - Children and Nurturing — Threats to SurvivalVI CONTENTS 2. Sustaining the Generations 119 The Family and Marriage — Access to the Land - Additional Income — Impossible Choices — Survival Outside the Family — Giving Value 3. The Extraordinary 151 Joan of Arc — The Witchcraft Persecutions 4. What Remains of the Peasant Woman's World 174 III. WOMEN OF THE CHURCHES THE POWER OF THE FAITHFUL 1. The Patterns of Power and Limitation: The Tenth to the Seventeenth Centuries 181 2. Authority Within the Institutional Church 183 The Great Abbesses and Learned Holy Communities — Reformed Religious Orders: The Twelfth and the Thirteenth Centuries — The Cloistered Life of the Nun — Mystics: The Ecstatic Life 3. Authority Outside the Institutional Church 214 Challenges to Established Dogma and Established Orders — The Virgin Mary — Exemplars, Tertiaries, and Beguines — Heresy: The Limits of Power Through Faith 4. Authority Given and Taken Away: The Protestant and Catholic Reformations 228 Religious Enthusiasm Reborn: The Sixteenth and the Seventeenth Centuries — Queens, Princesses, and Noblewomen — Protesters, Proselytizers, Unorthodox Nuns, and Martyrs — Limiting Roles: The Woman 's Proper Place 5. Traditional Images Redrawn 253 The Female Nature — The Christian Family 6. The Legacy of the Protestant Reformation 264 IV. WOMEN OF THE CASTLES AND MANORS CUSTODIANS OF LAND AND LINEAGE 1. From Warrior's Wife to Noblewoman: The Ninth to the Seventeenth Centuries 269 2. Constants of the Noblewoman's Life 272 War - Marriage — Land, Faith, and ChildrenContents vii 3. Power and Vulnerability 297 Wives and Daughters in the World of Feudalism: The Ninth to the Twelfth Centuries — Courtly Love and Codes of Chivalry — Wives and Daughters in the World of Centralized Monarchies: The Thirteenth to the Seventeenth Centuries — Widows and Mothers: The Ninth to the Seventeenth Centuries 4. Tlie New Flowering of Ancient Traditions 332 In Literature — In Law and Practice — The Ideal Woman V. WOMEN OF THE WALLED TOWNS PROVIDERS AND PARTNERS 1. The Townswoman's Daily Life: The Twelfth to the Seventeenth Centuries 353 Alleyways, Streets, and Squares — The Poor — Guildswomen — Merchants' Wives 2. Dangers and Remedies 378 Natural Disasters and War — Disease and Childhearing — Faith in God, Repentance, and the Saints - Prayers to the Virgin Mary 3. The World of Commercial Capitalism: The Thirteenth to the Seventeenth Centuries 392 Protected and Provided For — The Business of Marriage and Charity — Old Crafts — New Professions: Art and Medicine — Capitalist Entrepreneurs 4. TTie Invisible and Visible Bonds of Misogyny 431 Old Tales Retold — Sumptuary and Adultery Laws - Abuse of Women: Violence and Ridicule — The Ideal Marriage and the Perfect Wife Examines Women In The Noble Courts, Middle, Upper, And Working Classes, And Salons In The Cities Of The Modern Era. Volume 1: Part I: Traditions Inherited. Attitudes About Women From The Centuries Before 800 A.d. -- Buried Traditions: The Question Of Origins -- Inherited Traditions: The Principal Influences -- Traditions Subordinating Women -- Traditions Empowering Women -- The Effects Of Christianity -- Part Ii: Women Of The Fields . Sustaining The Generations -- The Constants Of The Peasant Women's World: The Ninth To The Twentieth Centuries -- Sustaining The Generations -- The Extraordinary -- What Remains Of The Peasant Woman's World -- Part Iii: Women Of The Churches. The Power Of The Faithful -- The Patterns Of Power And Limitation: The Tenth To The Seventeenth Centuries -- Authority Within The Institutional Church -- Authority Outside The Institutional Church -- Authority Given And Taken Away: The Protestant And Catholic Reformations -- Traditional Images Redrawn -- The Legacy Of The Protestant Reformation -- Part Iv: Women Of The Castles And Manors. Custodians Of Land And Lineage -- From Warrior's Wife To Noblewoman: The Ninth To The Seventeenth Centuries -- Constants Of The Noblewoman's Life -- Power And Vulnerability -- The New Flowering Of Ancient Traditions -- Part V : Women Of The Walled Towns. Providers And Partners -- The Townswoman's Daily Life: The Twelfth To The Seventeenth Centuries -- Dangers And Remedies -- The World Of Commercial Capitalism: The Thirteenth To The Seventeenth Centuries -- The Invisible And Visible Bonds Of Misogyny. Volume 2: Part Vi: Women Of The Courts. Rulers, Patrons, And Attendants -- The World Of Absolute Monarchs From The Fifteenth To The Eighteenth Centuries -- The Life Of The Courtier -- The Traditional Life In A Grand Setting: Wife And Queen Consort -- Women Rulers -- New Opportunities -- The Legacies Of Renaissance Humanism And The Scientific Revolution -- Part Vii : Women Of The Salons And Parlors. Ladies, Housewives, And Professionals -- Women In The Salons -- Women In The Parlors -- Leaving The Parlors -- Opportunities And Limits: Change And Tradition In The Twentieth Century -- Part Viii : Women Of The Cities. Mothers, Workers, And Revolutionaries -- Family Life -- Earning Income -- Revolutions And Reforms -- Continuity And Change: Women In World War Ii And After -- Part Ix : Traditions Rejected. A History Of Feminism In Europe -- Feminism In Europe -- Asserting Women's Humanity: Early European Feminists -- Asserting Women's Legal And Political Equality: Equal Rights Movements In Europe -- Feminist Socialism In Europe -- The Women's Liberation Movement. Bonnie S. Anderson, Judith P. Zinsser. Includes Indexes. Bibliography: V. 1, P. [531]-552 ; V. 2, P. [509]-534. Women's history from prehistoric times to the present, focusing on the developments, achievements, and changes in women's roles in society, organized within a loose chronology with chapters focusing on women's place and function in society. Topics include the roles of female monarchs and women of the court, the application of the new tools of the Scientific Revolution to prove traditional views of women, the salons and parlors of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and wealthy women's contributions to the arts and social services, the impact of city-living and the Industrial Revolution on women's roles and family life, and the emergence, evolution, and impact of the modern feminist movement Examina a las mujeres en las cortes de los nobles, clases medias, superiores y de trabajo, y los salones de belleza en las ciudades de la era moderna