“The History of Women in the West” in five volumes under the general editorship of Georges Duby and Michel Perrault consists of the works of 75 outstanding historians, presenting readers with a fascinating panoramic chronicle from antiquity to the present. Contents: About how the History of Women was written (Georges Duby and Michel Perrault) The emergence of women (Christiana Klapisch-Zuber) SECTION ONE. WAYS OF CONTROLImposing orderChapter 1. Through the eyes of the Church (Jacques Dalarin)The image of the enemyVirgin Mother Mary MagdaleneNew AgeChapter 2. The nature of women (Claude Thomasse)Chronological overviewAn unpredictable creatureChapter 3. A woman under the protection (Carla Casagrande)Conversation with womenWhat kind of women? Virtues and vices of womenChapter 4. GOOD THE WIFE (Silvana Vecchio)SarahWomen and family in the 15th centuryChapter 5. Management of women's fashion (Diana Owen Hugues)Clothing, consumption and status of womenSpecial types of sinWomen's responseModern assessmentSECTION TWO. FAMILY AND SOCIAL STRATEGIESThe hidden power of womenChapter 6. Women from the 5th to the 10th century (Suzanne Fonet-Wample)Woman in the worldWomen and religionEducation and creative activityChapter 7. The feudal system (Paulette L'Hermite-Leclerc)Conspiracy of womenMarriage and the ChurchThree EstatesChapter 8. Women at court (Georges Duby)Chapter 9. How they lived in the late Middle Ages (Claudia Opitz)Women's place: marriage and familyMotherhood and maternal behaviorDaily bread: women and workStatus of the single woman: emancipation or marginalization?Was there a women's movement in the Middle Ages?SECTION THREE. TRACES AND IMAGES OF WOMENNew approachesChapter 10. The world of women (Françoise Piponier)Chapter 11. The woman depicted (Chiara Frugoni)Church viewThe face of deathWomen in private and everyday lifeWomen and literatureBrides of Christ SECTION FOUR. WORDS OF WOMENThe Right to SpeakChapter 12. Literature and Mysticism (Danielle Regnier-Bohler)Women's Speeches?Words in ActionLanguage of FireTestimonies and Confessions (Georges Duby)NotesAbout the Authors