During the Middle Ages, women often did backbreaking work. Whether they were weaving their own cloth to make clothing or helping their husbands in the fields, medieval women worked hard—and so, often didn’t live past age 40! Fascinating facts like this engage readers with women’s lives during an important historical period. Full-color photographs and historical images illustrate the daily life of both peasants and noblewomen, as readers are introduced to Fiery Joanna, Joan of Arc, and other powerful, role-challenging women of the Middle Ages.

During the Middle Ages, women often did backbreaking work. Whether they were weaving their own cloth to make clothing or helping their husbands in the fields, medieval women worked hard—and so, often didn’t live past age 40! Fascinating facts like this engage readers with women’s lives during an important historical period. Full-color photographs and historical images illustrate the daily life of both peasants and noblewomen, as readers are introduced to Fiery Joanna, Joan of Arc, and other powerful, role-challenging women of the Middle Ages.

Some were feisty and fiery. Others were cool and dangerous. All were incredibly courageous. Outrageous Women of The Middle Ages took on the challenge of their world--and didn't worry about ruffling a few feathers. Among the outrageous women you'll meet are: * Eleanor of Aquitaine--queen of France and later England, she led a group of women on the Second Crusade and created her own financial system * Lady Murasaki Shikibu--besides being a wife and mother, she learned the "forbidden" language of Chinese and wrote the world's first novel * Aud the Deep-Minded--a Viking wise woman and explorer who led her clan, grandchildren and all, on a risky voyage from Scotland to Iceland * Hildegarde of Bingen--the German nun who, late in life, became a composer, a botanist, and founded convents * Damia al-Kahina--a nomadic freedom fighter, skilled at peacemaking and war, who kept her North African homeland free

From leftover trenchers and stinky chamber pots to barber surgeons and the black plague, life could be really miserable for people during medieval times. Get ready to explore the nasty side of life in the Middle Ages.

Correcting the omissions of traditional history, this is "a reliable survey of the real and varied roles played by women in the medieval period. . . . Highly recommended."--"Choice" Copyright © Libri GmbH. All rights reserved.

This guide to the feisty women of medieval times profiles 200 of these fair and unfair damsels from around the world. There's English rose Hilda of Whitby, Viking leader Aud the Deep-Minded and Wu Zhao of China, who chose to concubine, connive, murder and machiavelli her way to a 50 year reign.

This entertaining volume reveals some of the grossest practices in hygiene, dining, fashion, and medicine of Medieval Europe. Serfs often smelled bad, and they bathed and relieved themselves in streams filled with garbage. Wealthier individuals who had bathrooms produced waste that was sent down chutes into the castle moat. Peasants and nobles commonly consumed animal parts that today we would consider less appetizing, including paws, brains, stomachs, and lungs. Poor nutrition resulted in rotting teeth and scurvy. Doctors were woefully backward in treating patients, using odd remedies such as ground-up worms, bloodletting through leeches, and spreading animal dung on wounds.