All though many aspects of their lives seemed to be changing for the better, there was always that one that would place a restraint on the women of that s

ociety. This minor restraint was social class. Social status influenced the sort of life a medieval woman might lead. Many women either belonged to the upper class, referred to as the urban patriciate class, or to the lower class, named the artisan class.

Along with participating actively among the social realm of the Middle Ages, women were slowly gaining more liberty in the midst of marriage issues. When a medieval woman was expected to marry, she had to present her husband with a dowry. This custom had quickly disappeared. Instead of giving a price to the bride’s family, the groom directly presented them with the bride gift. “In addition to the economic independence derived through marriage, the women of the ninth century enjoyed an increased capacity to share in the inheritance of property” (Sherman 145). Land ownership was a great source of power during the Middle Ages. In cases where land was acquired by means such as inheritance, both sons and daughters had equal claims to the land. Previously, women had the right to receive “movable” items from relatives or husbands, but then the law permitted

Some topics in this essay:
Middle Ages, Ages According, Suzanne Wemple, middle ages, artisan class, women middle ages, , women artisan class, social status, roles women, marriage issues, bring society, sherman 145, medieval woman, class lower, women looked,