Daily Life in the Ancient World

Wealthy Women : Daily Medieval Life

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Introduction

Wealthy Medieval Women are often depicted in fiction , art , and film as damsels in distress . Their sole purpose in the world is to wait to be rescued by an attractive price or knight . These depictions are completely false . In Medieval Europe , the lives of women were extremely active . A woman 's way of life , her expected activities , and her daily schedule were all based on her class , education , and religious beliefs There were three basic

classes of women : the lady , the working woman and the peasant

Positions of Wealthy Women

The top level position for a woman , was to be a lady - a woman of wealth . The position of Queen held the most respect and the most power . These women dealt directly with politics and law making . A Queen 's descendants included Royal Princesses , Duchesses , Countesses and Baronesses . In additional to nobility , there were also women of the aristocracy

Wealthy city heiresses were women (wives and daughters ) who gained their status and wealth through marriage . Wealthy women were arranged into marriages as babies , physically married at the age of 7 and had their first child at the age of 13 or 14 . The arrangement of the marriage was determined by the girl 's father and no one else . Women had no choice during medieval times in their selection of a husband . If a girl 's father died before the arrangement of a marriage , the father would be sure to leave the daughter a dowry . This would be used to encourage male suitors or if marriage was not possible then to place the girl into a nunnery . There were only two options for wealthy women of Medieval Europe - being a wife or being a nun . Nunneries were exclusively for upper class women . These women could include wives widows , and daughters . They were often used as a safe and restrictive place for men to send their women (daughters or wives ) in their absence For example if a husband must travel abroad for extensive periods of time without his wife , he would place her comfortably ' in a nunnery .Education

Education of girls within a nunnery taught young girls to read and write . These girls were encouraged to story tell , read romantic novels and evaluate poetry . They were schooled in fashion sense and proper attire for themselves and any men that would be in their future lives Nunneries also provided girls with proper manners and societal behaviors . Speaking properly was another essential quality for a wealthy woman . Girls were also expected to play chess , hawking , play musical instruments , and sing . Additionally , wealthy girls were often sent to stay with women of the upper class , as mentors . In these wealthy households girls were introduced to society in hopes of finding a proper husband . The talents learned and polished within the nunnery could now be used in a practical setting . Many men valued proper manners over intelligence and believed in the old adage - women...