{"product_id":"marriage-and-the-family-in-the-middle-ages","title":"Marriage and the Family in the Middle Ages","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom bestselling historians Frances and Joseph Gies, authors of the classic \"Medieval Life\" series, comes this compelling, lucid, and highly readable account of the family unit as it evolved throughout the Medieval period--reissued for the first time in decades.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Some particular books that I found useful for \u003cem\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/em\u003e and its sequels deserve mention. \u003cem\u003eLife in a Medieval Castle\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLife in a Medieval City\u003c\/em\u003e, both by Joseph and Frances Gies.\" --George R. R. Martin, author of \u003cem\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThroughout history, the significance of the family--the basic social unit--has been vital. In \u003cem\u003eMarriage and the Family in the Middle Ages\u003c\/em\u003e, acclaimed historians Frances and Joseph Gies trace the development of marriage and the family from the medieval era to early modern times. It describes how the Roman and barbarian cultural streams merged under the influence of the Christian church to forge new concepts, customs, laws, and practices. Century by century, the Gies follow the development--sometimes gradual, at other times revolutionary--of significant components in the history of the family including: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe basic functions of the family as a production unit, as well as its religious, social, judicial, and educational roles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe shift of marriage from private arrangement between families to public ceremony between individuals, and the adjustments in dowry, bride-price, and counter-dowry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe development of consanguinity rules and incest taboos in church law and lay custom.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe peasant family in its varying condition of being free or unfree, poor, middling, or rich.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe aristocratic estate, the problem of the younger son, and the disinheritance of daughters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Black Death and its long-term effects on the family.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSex attitudes and customs: the effects of variations in age of men and women at marriage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe changing physical environment of noble, peasant, and urban families.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArrangements by families for old age and retirement.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eExpertly researched, master historians Frances and Joseph Gies--whose books were used by George R.R. Martin in his research for \u003cem\u003eGame of Thrones\u003c\/em\u003e--paint a compelling, detailed portrait of family life and social customs in one of the most riveting eras in history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Harper Perennial","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51984332226791,"sku":"9780062966810","price":20.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0449\/4075\/5096\/files\/imageloader_ead7e336-7057-4c5b-8c7d-b9d443657053.jpg?v=1776316711","url":"https:\/\/arvidabookco.com\/products\/marriage-and-the-family-in-the-middle-ages","provider":"Arvida Book Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}