History 305: Women & Gender in Premodern Europe: Researching Material Culture

Each volume in this five-volume set focuses on a specific period and helps students and researchers understand the various disciplines of the humanities in relation to each other, as well as to history and culture. After a general introduction, nine chapters follow, covering the major branches of the humanities: architecture and design, dance, fashion, literature, music, philosophy, religion, theater and visual arts. Chapters end with significant primary documents from the period.
Volume 3: Medieval Europe (814-1450)
Volume 4: Renaissance Europe (1300-1600)

Provides coverage of all aspects of art and architecture from Medieval Western Europe, from the 6th century to the early 16th century.

Coverage is from the fall of the Roman Empire to about 1492.

Relevant entries include an overview of medieval consumption; sumptuary laws; the Church's views on materialism; and brief accounts of medieval technologies of work, travel, and leisure.

Twenty diverse case studies combine leading edge techniques and novel theoretical approaches to illuminate the identities and lives of overlooked ordinary people, painting of a number of detailed portraits to explore the worlds of actors involved in the lives of everyday products - objects of bone, leather, stone, ceramics, and base metal - and their production and use in medieval northern Europe.

A diverse group of entries looks at larger topics such as the economics of consumption as well as more concrete subjects, such as a specific style of shoe.

Examines the ways in which hair (including material objects used to adorn hair) has served as a signifier of class, gender, ethnicity, conformity/non-comfority, authority, and power throughout history.

Examines all aspects of warfare and military technology in medieval times.