Visit the City

Inside a medieval walled city, space was scant and used to best advantage. Narrow streets, sometimes no broadcer than a person's shoulders, doubled as gutters, slaughterhouses, and latrines. Cities were noisy and smelly. Because each story above ground jutted beyond the walls of the one below, little light and air reached the reeking streets. Streets were pitch-black at night (there was no light pollution), and watchmen and thieves patrolled the streets (Manchester 48).

THE DISTAFF SIDE
The distaff side is the women's side of the family. Explore the lives of these women and the circumstances of birth, childhood, marriage, and death.

THE CHAPEL
Women and religion in the Middle Ages -- mystics, monastics, and anchorites; the duality of Biblical women; Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

THE MARKETPLACE
Whether as producers or consumers, women were invaluable to medieval economics. This page focuses on women in businesses of all sizes. You can also gossip here about our website.

THE THRONE ROOM
Though they were often used as pawns in the medieval political arena, not all women allowed their political abilities to go to waste.

THE ARMORY
Medieval women were soldiers long before the WAACs. Whether as defenders, commanders, or mercenaries, women made their mark on medieval warfare. This page also contains information on women and heraldry.

THREADNEEDLE STREET
Threadneedle Street is the fashion center of the City of Women. Here you can see fashion hits from the 11th to the 14th Centuries as well as the latest from the 15th.

THE APOTHECARY
Science and medicine were not dead in the Middle Ages, even though it seemed many people were trying to stamp them out. Other people tried to keep women out of these fields, but (of course) they had no luck. This page contains information on medicine, science, and witchcraft.

THE ARTS
From famous writers to nameless actors, many contributors to the medieval art scene were women, who created literature, music, theatre, dance, and visual art.

THE PILGRIMAGE
In the middle of her work on this project, Troy Scheid, one of the creators of this web page, got a chance to visit England and Paris. She used the opportunity to photograph works of art portraying medieval women. The results are on this page. GRAPHICS-INTENSIVE.

THE LIBRARY
The works recorded in our bibliography were consulted in the making of this website and make an extensive reading list for those who would like to pursue this subject further. We highly recommend these books.

[home] [the inquisition] [visit the city] [biographies] [sister cities] [miscellany]

THE DISTAFF SIDE	The distaff side is the women's side of the family. Explore the lives of these women and the circumstances of birth, childhood, marriage, and death.
THE CHAPEL	Women and religion in the Middle Ages -- mystics, monastics, and anchorites; the duality of Biblical women; Christians, Jews, and Muslims.
THE MARKETPLACE	Whether as producers or consumers, women were invaluable to medieval economics. This page focuses on women in businesses of all sizes. You can also gossip here about our website.
THE THRONE ROOM	Though they were often used as pawns in the medieval political arena, not all women allowed their political abilities to go to waste.
THE ARMORY	Medieval women were soldiers long before the WAACs. Whether as defenders, commanders, or mercenaries, women made their mark on medieval warfare. This page also contains information on women and heraldry.
THREADNEEDLE STREET	Threadneedle Street is the fashion center of the City of Women. Here you can see fashion hits from the 11th to the 14th Centuries as well as the latest from the 15th.
THE APOTHECARY	Science and medicine were not dead in the Middle Ages, even though it seemed many people were trying to stamp them out. Other people tried to keep women out of these fields, but (of course) they had no luck. This page contains information on medicine, science, and witchcraft.
THE ARTS	From famous writers to nameless actors, many contributors to the medieval art scene were women, who created literature, music, theatre, dance, and visual art.
THE PILGRIMAGE	In the middle of her work on this project, Troy Scheid, one of the creators of this web page, got a chance to visit England and Paris. She used the opportunity to photograph works of art portraying medieval women. The results are on this page. GRAPHICS-INTENSIVE.
THE LIBRARY	The works recorded in our bibliography were consulted in the making of this website and make an extensive reading list for those who would like to pursue this subject further. We highly recommend these books.