Anglo-Saxon Daily Life

Anglo-Saxon Daily Life

Peace-Weavers

The role of women to marry someone from a rival tribe or clan to weave peace between the two groups

Considered an ideal role because she insured a good future for her children

She had the ability to influence decisions made by the king and act as intermediary between king and warrior

More of a tradition whether or not it actually worked

Arranged

Marriages

Women's Rights Within Marriage

Many women, especially upper class women, had arranged marriages

Started very young, before anyone else could arrange another marriage and gain the land

Peasant women might have marriages arranged, but were better off than upper classes because they happened later in life with men they knew

Law of Cnut said that a woman could never be forced to marry a man and that if her husband died before they had any children she was entitled to 1/3 of his land plus morgengifu

Divorce laws were very lax despite the religious arguments against it

If her husband died she would get her land back + at least 1/3 of his under English common law dower and could claim at age 9

Marriages

Were extremely public affairs, where the whole community would help with any problems so the community did its best to prevent unhappy marriages

Morgengifu (marriage gifts) were used so if a women needed to, she could support herself

Women co-owned any/all of her husband's property after marriage

Gender Roles Within Marriage

Unmarried Women

Husbands and wives were expected to work together in all aspects

Once married, she had to be prepared to take his place at any moment in case of war/death/prison/lawsuits

Femme sole--an unmarried woman, had right to do business on her own

Considered on par with men

Could hold land, make wills/contracts, and could sue or be sued

Family and Kinship

Sons and daughters were considered equally important

No preference given to women as heirs, but women were in more vulnerable position

Brothers and sisters could inherit from each other

Brothers took care of unmarried/widowed sisters after their father

People's loyalty could often shift from their own kin to their spouse's kin

Family Life

It's possible parents showed children no typical love or affection because of high child mortality

It wasn't uncommon for family of woman's brother/father to raise her child

There was lots of infidelity, so it was sometimes the only way for people to know the child was actually kin

Children's Rights

There were many laws protecting children against harm and in case of parental death or abandonment

Illegitimate children had very few legal rights

Infanticide was common practice

Those born with disabilities weren't treated well

Children's Roles

Home Life

Seen as mini-adults, had many of the same responsibilities

There were many child monks and nuns, who were often the only volunteers for monastic orders

They were much better off than most because child slavery and trade was common

Jobs

Homes usually had one room, with a fire for cooking, warmth, and light

Wealthy houses had lots of woven decorations made by women

Most food was boiled in one pot over a fire: meat and vegetables, a bad harvest meant twigs and stinging nettles

Common ailments were earache, toothache, headache, shingles, wounds, burns and joint pain

Women had very high mortality because of pregnancies, miscarriages, childbirth, possibly a lack of iron

Medical advice often mixed common sense and superstition

Noble Life

There were many specialized workers, like metalworkers, jewelers, and potters

Food prepared by male slaves or men and women equally

Preparing/serving drink was specifically a woman's job

Well-born women were very powerful and didn't need anyone else's consent to own and give estates

Many nobles were well-educated and literate; books were rare but some mention small private libraries owned by both women and men

Free Time

Adult Home Duties

Boys and girls played games with the other children in the village, such as counter and dice games, juggling, and playing with wood tops, swords, and ships

Children Home Duties

Men were hunters and protected the village from wolf attacks

Women spun wool from sheep and goats to make thread and used the loom to weave the thread into cloth

Farmers plowed fields, grew grains, and raised animals

By a very young age, children were expected to be an adult

Girls: looking after animals, helping with cooking and cleaning, fetching water

Boys: looking after animals, collecting firewood, learning to hunt