Byzantine Women: Varieties of Experience 800-1200 (Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College London) (Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College London) [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Lynda Garland (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2006 | ISBN-10: 075465737X | ISBN-13: 978-0754657378 | Edition: illustrated edition

This volume brings together a group of international scholars, who explore many unusual aspects of the world of Byzantine women in the period 800-1200. The specific aim of this collection is to investigate the participation of women - non-imperial women in particular - in supposedly 'masculine' fields of operation. This new research across a range of disciplines attempts to provide an analysis of the activities of and attitudes towards Byzantine women in this period. Using evidence from sources as diverse as tax registers, monastic foundation documents, twelfth-century novels, historical texts, art historical evidence and the writings of women themselves, such as the hymnographer Kassia and the historian Anna Komnene, these papers elucidate the context in which Byzantine women lived. They emphasize the variety of female experiences, the circumstances that shaped women's lives, and the ways in which individual women were perceived by their society. Contributions focus on women's dress, their participation in the street life of Constantinople, their appearance in Byzantine fiscal documents, their monastic foundations, their engagement with entertainment at the imperial court, and the way heroines are portrayed in the Byzantine novels. Analysis of the writings of the hymnographer Kassia, the networking of Mary 'of Alania' and the ways she overcame the disadvantages of being a foreign-born empress, and the family values reflected in Anna Komnene's Alexiad, draw attention to specific problems. All these aim to expand our understanding of the circumstances that shaped women's lives and expectations in the Middle Byzantine period and to analyze the range of women's experiences, the roles they played and the impact they made on society.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lynda Garland is an Associate Professor in the School of Classics, History and Religion at The University of New England, New South Wales, Australia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 226 pages
• Publisher: Ashgate Pub Co; illustrated edition edition (September 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075465737X
• ISBN-13: 978-0754657378
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,529,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good helpful information here for those just starting out on this topic, May 12, 2011

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Beachgirl61 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Byzantine Women: Varieties of Experience 800-1200 (Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College London) (Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College London) (Hardcover)

I discovered this book while looking up information on the woman who is my patron saint. In the book she is identified as Kassia, but she is St. Kassiane the hymnographer. It was really neat to see an entire chapter devoted to this poet and songwriter. My only real complaint with the book is that there are no picture in it. I like having illustrations, and goodness knows there are plenty of wonderful examples of Byzantine art not to mention Orthodox Icons that could've been featured. Oh, well, perhaps if a new edition is printed someday?

It's true the writing isn't super riveting, but it's still readable and sufficient for those who are new either to Byzantine or Eastern Orthodox history.

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok material, October 16, 2010

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A Reader "A reader" (Herndon, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Byzantine Women: Varieties of Experience 800-1200 (Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College London) (Centre for Hellenic Studies, King's College London) (Hardcover)

Ok book. Lynda Garland's chapter in this book is good, but most of the rest of the writers are so pedantic as to make the material boring. If there is anything that the Byzantines weren't, it was boring. The Byzantine culture and civilization is, to me, endlessly fascinating, but so many of the books on the subject (possible exception of John Julius Norwich's books) are dull to the nth degree. Please, Byzantine scholars, improve your writing style!!!