#Chivalry code respect women free

Peasant women did virtually all of the same work that the men did, as well as tending to home care.įinally, religious women were educated and taken care of by the order they belonged to. Peasant women were part of the country folk, who farmed the land alongside their husbands.

While these did take up some crafts that required little skill, very often these women turned to prostitution to earn income.

#Chivalry code respect women free

Unskilled townswomen were a lower class than free townswomen in that they were often uneducated, and untrained in a craft. These were part of the merchant class. Some trades they engaged in were solely a woman's craft (textiles, for example). Competent, indeed.įree townswomen, on top of managing the household, was also normally a skilled tradesworker, frequently working alongside her husband in craft. She was also responsible for making legal arguments, settling fights and riots, as well as defending the manor against armed attacks. She had charge over, often, hundreds of employees and their homes. Thus, the Lady was often in charge of the management of the estate, including management of the land itself, its crops, animals, and other property. Though the management of the estate was largely run by the Lord of the Manor, the Lady had to be capable of carrying out his duties in his absence, and due to the fact that war was frequent, and the Lord (especially in the case of Knights) was therefore either frequently away at war, or dead because of war. Women during this time in Europe were very important to society, and were part of roughly five classes: the Lady of the Manor, Free Townswoman, Unskilled Townswoman, Peasant Woman, and Religious (Nun). This principle is about exactly what it sounds like: treating women with dignity and respect, living chastely, and defending them and their good name in the face of unjust aggression. I'm going to talk about respecting the honour of women first, because I see supporting them in their widowhood as an extension of this principle. To give succour to widows and orphans, and to respect the honour of women these are rules 4 and 15 from the Song of Roland.