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Women who did not marry were sent to nunneries where they were trained to assist in hospitals and other charities. Some of the occupations considered suitable for lower class women, besides helping on the farm or in the shop, were spinning, weaving, and laundry work. If one was a fortune teller, midwife or healer, the threat of being tried as a witch was very real. Prostitution was common. There were some famous courtesans who became "favorites" of rulers and popes. Usually more beautiful and charming than the well-born wives who despised them, they were often as well-educated, and as well-dressed. But it was very possible that their status as favorite could change overnight. It was a risky profession as described in this letter from a famous Venetian courtesan to her sister when she learned, to her horror, that her niece was being groomed for this profession....
Chapter
11 Living in the 20th century, it is easy for us to take many things for granted. The reason we study history is to learn about people who lived in the past. This chapter will describe the means by which history was written down and preserved for later generations. It will also show a few of the many words we use today which come from ancient Greek and Latin origins.You will find these words printed in an italic typeface. Look at the end of the chapter for their original meaning. Before the invention of the printing press in Europe, all books and music had been copied by hand into manuscripts. (1) Often the scribes did not understand the language they were copying. Many errors resulted from this method. The calligrapher (2) used a pen he had made from the quill of a large bird, preferably a goose. He prepared his own ink by mixing lampblack (soot) with water as needed. If he wanted red he used mercuric
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During
the Renaissance, women were expected to marry, bear children , and
maintain the household, no matter into what class of society they
were born. Girls were married very young. Regardless of their status,
they had to marry a man of their father's choice. Often these marriages
were arranged simply for political reasons - to bring together two
wealthy, land-owning families. In some towns, those poor young women
who could not afford to bring a dowry to the marriage were assisted
by a fund established for that purpose. If a woman became a widow
she was allowed to have her dowry returned to her, but her husband's
estate was willed to her children. If she left the marriage, she could
not take her children with her.
