Sign up to The National Archives' mailing list for regular updates and priority booking for events.

Free UK delivery on all orders over £50
0

Sign up to The National Archives' mailing list for regular updates and priority booking for events.

Free UK delivery on all orders over £50
    0

    Your Bag is Empty

    • A selection of Family History Books
    Trench Map 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle
    Replica Medal
    Henry Coles Rat Soft Toy
    Kings & Queens decorations
    Spydle book cover image
    A selection of replica maps
    A double-sided decoration featuring a character based on the Bayeux Tapestry, with intricate metallic and silk thread detailing on a satin background.
    Empire Marketing Board Image 1920s People
    Home > All > A Cultural History of Marriage in the Medieval Age
    Book cover for 'A Cultural History of Marriage in the Medieval Age', edited by Joanne M. Ferraro and Frederik Pedersen, featuring a white upper section with gray text and a medieval-style painting of figures in robes below.

    SALE

    A Cultural History of Marriage in the Medieval Age

    £29.99 £85.00
    Description
    Marriage in Europe became a central pillar of society during the medieval period. Theologians, lawyers, and secular and church leaders agreed on a unique outline of the institution and its legal framework, the essential features of which remained in force until the 1980s. The medieval Western European definition of marriage was unique: before the legal consequences of marriage came into being, the parties had to promise to engage in sexual union only with one partner and to remain in the marriage until one of the parties died.

    This requirement had profound implications for inheritance rules and for the organization of the family economy; it was explained and justified in a multitude of theological discussions and legal decisions across all faiths on the European continent. Normative texts, built on the foundations of the scriptures of several religious traditions, provided an impressive intellectual framework around marriage. In addition, developments in iconography, including sculpture and painting, projected the dominant model of marriage, while social, demographic and cultural changes encouraged its adoption.

    This volume traces the medieval discussion of marriage in practice, law, theology and iconography. It provides an examination of the wider political and economic context of marriage and offers an overview of the ebb and flow of society's ideas about how expressions of human sexuality fit within the confines of a clearly defined social structure and ideology. A Cultural History of Marriage in the Medieval Age presents an overview of the period with essays on Courtship and Ritual; Religion, State and Law; Kinship and Social Networks; the Family Economy; Love and Sex; the Breaking of Vows; and Representations of Marriage.
    DELIVERY & RETURNS

    We offer free standard UK delivery on all orders over £50.

    Orders up to £30 are charged a flat fee of £4.95 within the UK.

    Orders between £30.01 and £50 are charged a flat fee of £6.95 within the UK.

    Usual UK delivery timescale (excluding custom prints) is between 5 and 7 working days from the date of dispatch. 

    Due to the EU Regulation 2023/988 (GPSR) selected items are not available for delivery to Northern Ireland.

    Delivery Worldwide

    Due to the EU Regulation 2023/988 (GPSR) we are currently unable to accept any orders for delivery to EU member countries and Switzerland. 

    We can deliver to other selected countries worldwide. 

    See here for full details.

    Returns & refunds

    If you are not completely satisfied with your item you may return it within 28 days for a refund.

    See here for full details.

    Binding: Hardback

    SKU: 9781350001824