Paper given at The Second Japano-Korean Symposium on Medieval History of Europe (1991)
Introduction: Until now the research of women in medieval history has been excluded from the concern of the historians. Its principal factor was that the main interest of the historians was restricted only in political, economic aspects. On the other hand, this theme was difficult to understand componently because of the extreme dispersion of the sources. At any rate, it is true that since the 10th century useful sources are increasing more and more.
By the way, useful sources were almost all written by males, especially by the clergy. Generally, churchmen’s view of women could condensed like next: “A man was created in the image of God and a woman in the imitation of God. Therefore, a woman was inferior to a man. Therefore, a woman was inferior to a man. Moreover, Adam’s degradation was caused by Eve’s sin. Therefore, a woman was obliged to obey a man.”
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We know well that the feudal society was the masculine one. However, prior to predicate that the women’s position was entirely low, we must inquire practically about women’s real position shown in this society. In this paper, I will try to show mainly the women’s position in the noble family and its marriage in the Capetian Dynasty which is considered as a typical feudal period. Its chief reasons were that useful sources about this field were relatively many and that this research will help to understand the ruling structure of the nobility in the feudal period.
By Choi Saeng-yeoul
Paper given at The Second Japano-Korean Symposium on Medieval History of Europe (1991)
Introduction: Until now the research of women in medieval history has been excluded from the concern of the historians. Its principal factor was that the main interest of the historians was restricted only in political, economic aspects. On the other hand, this theme was difficult to understand componently because of the extreme dispersion of the sources. At any rate, it is true that since the 10th century useful sources are increasing more and more.
By the way, useful sources were almost all written by males, especially by the clergy. Generally, churchmen’s view of women could condensed like next: “A man was created in the image of God and a woman in the imitation of God. Therefore, a woman was inferior to a man. Therefore, a woman was inferior to a man. Moreover, Adam’s degradation was caused by Eve’s sin. Therefore, a woman was obliged to obey a man.”
We know well that the feudal society was the masculine one. However, prior to predicate that the women’s position was entirely low, we must inquire practically about women’s real position shown in this society. In this paper, I will try to show mainly the women’s position in the noble family and its marriage in the Capetian Dynasty which is considered as a typical feudal period. Its chief reasons were that useful sources about this field were relatively many and that this research will help to understand the ruling structure of the nobility in the feudal period.
Click here to read this article from the Korean Society for Western Medieval History
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