13th Century American Women Essay
Woman in medieval Gaelic societies: from Brehon to Common Law
How much do we know about a medieval woman coming from Western Europe? With some exceptions she was highly unemancipated due to religious and Roman and Common civil laws that existed at that time.
In contrast, Gaelic societies were different. In 13th century’s Scotland and 17th century’s Ireland, women were practically on an equal foot with the men under the native Brehon Law. Gaelic societies allowed more freedom compare to other Western European societies. It was not obligatory for Irish woman to be a virgin before their marriage, as well as she could obtain her bride-price and a share of the couple’s common property. Moreover, the migratory woman of low status also had good perspectives and chances for a successful and secured life: in the case of partnering with a farmer and giving birth to a son, she also had a right to share property. …show more content…
The life of such women is well described in Gaelic historical sources, including legal documents. But, since women’s right weren’t properly researched in Scotland and Ireland till the 1980-1990, we are far from a complete picture. The following questions should be asked:
• Why the woman of Gaelic societies had so many rights?
• Which cultural and legal background supported this? There is an opinion by a famous Irish scholar Binchy D.A., that early Irish law represents some of the Proto-Indo-Europeans customs.
• Did women from different Gaelic tribes had the same rights in property and marriage and was this depending on a geographical factor?
• Was there a difference between the rights of women from small scale fertile lands of Southern and Eastern Ireland with the rights of women that lived in Highlands?
• How did factors, such as as Vikings’ invasion, influence the status of a free Irish
How much do we know about a medieval woman coming from Western Europe? With some exceptions she was highly unemancipated due to religious and Roman and Common civil laws that existed at that time.
In contrast, Gaelic societies were different. In 13th century’s Scotland and 17th century’s Ireland, women were practically on an equal foot with the men under the native Brehon Law. Gaelic societies allowed more freedom compare to other Western European societies. It was not obligatory for Irish woman to be a virgin before their marriage, as well as she could obtain her bride-price and a share of the couple’s common property. Moreover, the migratory woman of low status also had good perspectives and chances for a successful and secured life: in the case of partnering with a farmer and giving birth to a son, she also had a right to share property. …show more content…
The life of such women is well described in Gaelic historical sources, including legal documents. But, since women’s right weren’t properly researched in Scotland and Ireland till the 1980-1990, we are far from a complete picture. The following questions should be asked:
• Why the woman of Gaelic societies had so many rights?
• Which cultural and legal background supported this? There is an opinion by a famous Irish scholar Binchy D.A., that early Irish law represents some of the Proto-Indo-Europeans customs.
• Did women from different Gaelic tribes had the same rights in property and marriage and was this depending on a geographical factor?
• Was there a difference between the rights of women from small scale fertile lands of Southern and Eastern Ireland with the rights of women that lived in Highlands?
• How did factors, such as as Vikings’ invasion, influence the status of a free Irish