Medieval Women Religious, c. 800-c. 1500: New Perspectives

A re-examination of the roles of women religious in the Middle Ages, challenging received narratives and highlighting their impact on communities and the wider world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 24 January 2023
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

A comprehensive re-examination of the multifaceted roles of women religious in the Middle Ages, encompassing their experiences both within and outside the cloister. During this era, medieval women sought diverse means to express their religious aspirations, whether within the confines of monastic and religious orders, as vowed women in the world, or as anchorites bridging the two. This volume presents a collection of essays that employ a diverse range of disciplinary approaches, including history, archaeology, literature, and the visual arts, to challenge prevailing scholarly narratives and explore the roles of women religious. Through these essays, we gain a deeper understanding of their authority and agency within their own communities and the broader world, their educational attainments and literacy, their significance in the landscape, and the rich visual culture that surrounded them.

Moreover, this volume underscores the profound impact that women had on the world around them, the importance of their presence in communities, and the enduring legacies they left behind. It serves as a testament to the remarkable contributions and achievements of women religious during a period of significant historical transformation.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837650293