Women, Food, and Diet in the Middle Ages: Balancing the Humours

Anthropological and folkloristic approaches to food, gender, and medicine in the Middle Ages can reveal insights beyond textual evidence, such as the cultural concerns of gender roles and Church teachings about women, who were often overlooked in the written record. Women were expected to be nurturers, healers, and primary food providers for families, and this work explores how the written medical tradition interacted with folk medicine and other cultural factors to understand womens bodies and roles as healers and food providers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 236 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2020
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press

Women, Food, and Diet in the Middle Ages: Balancing the Humours delves into the rich tapestry of textual traditions that offer insights into dietary recommendations for women's health, situated within the broader cultural context of gender roles and Church teachings about women. It sheds light on the often overlooked role of women as nurturers, healers, and primary food providers for families, particularly those from lower social classes, who are typically marginalized in the written record. Through this comprehensive examination, the work unravels the mysteries surrounding women, food, medicine, and diet in the Middle Ages, exploring how the written medical tradition intersects with folk medicine and other cultural factors to understand women's bodies and their vital roles as healers and food providers.

In the Middle Ages, women played a crucial role in the realm of food, gender, and medicine. While their contributions often went unnoticed in the written records, anthropological and folkloristic approaches provide valuable insights into their experiences and roles.

Anthropological studies have revealed that women in the Middle Ages were often responsible for food production and preparation, particularly in rural communities. They cultivated crops, raised livestock, and processed food, ensuring that families had access to nutritious meals. Women's culinary skills and knowledge were highly valued and passed down through generations, as they played a vital role in maintaining the health and well-being of their communities.

Folkloristic approaches, on the other hand, offer a rich tapestry of stories and traditions that shed light on women's roles in medicine and healing. Women were often considered healers and midwives, using their knowledge of herbs, plants, and natural remedies to treat illnesses and alleviate pain. They were often consulted for their expertise in childbirth and fertility, as well as in matters of women's health and well-being.

These approaches to food, gender, and medicine in the Middle Ages highlight the complex and multifaceted nature of women's experiences in this period. They reveal the importance of women's contributions to food production and nutrition, as well as their roles as healers and caregivers. They also challenge the traditional narratives that have marginalized women's voices and experiences in the historical record.

By combining anthropological and folkloristic approaches, we can gain a deeper understanding of women's roles in the Middle Ages and their impact on the broader cultural and societal landscape. This knowledge can help us to appreciate the contributions of women to history and to address the ongoing challenges and inequalities that they faced in this period and beyond.

Weight: 506g
Dimension: 163 x 240 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789462989382
Edition number: 0