Family and Household in Medieval England (Social History in Perspective)
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; Palgrave
Published: January 6, 2001
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 172
ISBN-13: 9780333610787
Subjects: Family & relationships; Social History; c 1000 CE to c 1500; c 1500 to c 1600; Family; History; History - General History; History: World; General; Social Science / Sociology / Marriage & Family; Europe - Great Britain - General; Sociology - Marriage & Family; 1066-1485; England; Households; Social life and customs; To 1500
Description: "Family and Household in Medieval England offers an introduction to the formative period of one of the central institutions of western society. The family and household together provided the basic unit of social organisation in the Middle Ages, and this period saw the emergence of many aspects of modern life, not least the marriage service and its attendant ceremonies.".

"The family was one of the few experiences common to every rank of medieval society, from princes to peasants. The centrality of this theme is reflected in the breadth of topics considered here, which embrace demography, the law, theology and popular belief, property-holding, employment, and, of course, love and emotional relationships.".

"After discussing the family in the religious and legal traditions from the late classical and barbarian periods to the Middle Ages, the book adopts a 'life-cycle' approach to the history of the medieval English family, beginning with courtship and marriage, encompassing childbirth and the parent-child relationship along the way, through to the dissolution of marriage, either by death or separation, and ending with a discussion of widowhood, wardship and retirement.

The text is illuminated with examples from the experiences of people from all levels of medieval society, reflecting the diversity of family life in this period."--BOOK JACKET.