Women and Religion in Medieval and Renaissance Italy

Between the twelfth and the sixteenth centuries, women assumed public roles of unprecedented prominence in Italian religious culture. Legally subordinated, politically excluded, socially limited, and ideologically disdained, women's active participation in religious life offered them access to power in all its forms.

These essays explore the involvement of women in religious life throughout northern and central Italy and trace the evolution of communities of pious women as they tried to achieve their devotional goals despite the strictures of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The contributors examine relations between holy women, their devout followers, and society at large.

Including contributions from leading figures in a new generation of Italian historians of religion, this book shows how women were able to carve out broad areas of influence by carefully exploiting the institutional church and by astutely manipulating religious percepts.

About the author

Summary

This work shows how women between the 12th and 16th centuries were able to carve out areas of influence by exploiting the institutional church and by manipulating religious precepts. Contributors argue that women's participation in religious life offered them access to power in all its forms.

Product details

• Authors: Daniel Bornstein, Daniel E. Bornstein, Roberto Rusconi
• Assisted by: Daniel Bornstein (Editor), Daniel Ethan Bornstein (Editor), Bornstein Daniel (Editor), Roberto Rusconi (Editor), Rusconi Roberto (Editor), Margery J. Schneider (Translation), Marjery J. Schneider (Translation), Schneider Margery J. (Translation)
• Publisher: University Presses
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 15.07.1996
• EAN: 9780226066394
• ISBN: 978-0-226-06639-4
• No. of pages: 344
• Dimensions: 17 mm x 22 mm x 2 mm
• Weight: 539 g
• Series: Women in Culture and Society Series; Women in Culture & Society (Pa; Women in Culture and Society Series; Women in Culture and Society; Women in Culture & Society Series WCS (CHUP); Women in Culture & Society Series WCS
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Social sciences, law, business > Sociology > Sociological theories; RELIGION / Christianity / Catholic, European History, SOCIAL SCIENCE / Women's Studies, HISTORY / Europe / Italy, HISTORY / Women, RELIGION / Sexuality & Gender Studies, Italy, CE period up to c 1500, Early history: c 500 to c 1450/1500, Gender studies: women, Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church, Gender studies: women and girls, European history: medieval period, middle ages, HISTORY / Europe / Medieval