A Cultural History of Marriage in the Medieval Age

During the medieval period, marriage in Europe was a central pillar of society, with theologians, lawyers, and secular and church leaders agreeing on a unique outline of the institution and its legal framework. Normative texts provided an intellectual framework, and developments in iconography projected the dominant model of marriage. This volume traces the medieval discussion of marriage in practice, law, theology, and iconography, examining the wider political and economic context and offering an overview of societys ideas about how expressions of human sexuality fit within the confines of a defined social structure and ideology.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 09 February 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

During the medieval period, marriage emerged as a crucial cornerstone of European society, bringing together theologians, lawyers, secular and religious leaders to establish a comprehensive understanding of the institution and its legal framework. This agreement, which endured until the 1980s, defined the essential characteristics of marriage, shaping inheritance rules and the organization of the family economy. The medieval Western European definition of marriage stood out for its unique requirements: before legal consequences took effect, the parties involved were required to pledge exclusive sexual union with one partner and remain in the marriage until the death of one of them. This pledge had far-reaching implications for inheritance laws and the structure of the family economy, sparking extensive theological debates and legal decisions across various faiths throughout the European continent. Normative texts, drawing upon the scriptures of multiple religious traditions, provided a robust intellectual framework for marriage. Moreover, advancements in iconography, encompassing sculpture and painting, projected the prevailing model of marriage, further fostering its acceptance. This volume explores the multifaceted discussion of marriage during the medieval era, encompassing practice, law, theology, and iconography. It delves into the broader political and economic context of marriage, providing an overview of the evolving societal perspectives on how expressions of human sexuality should align with the confines of a well-defined social structure and ideology. A Cultural History of Marriage in the Medieval Age offers a comprehensive examination of the period through essays on courtship and ritual, religion, state and law, kinship and social networks, the family economy, love and sex, the breaking of vows, and representations of marriage.

Weight: 472g
Dimension: 169 x 245 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350355613