title: Extraordinary Women of the Medieval and Renaissance World: A Biographical Dictionary
author: Debra Barrett-Graves
description: Women such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Joan of Arc, and Elizabeth I of England are known to anyone who has studied history, but a second tier of women also flourished during the Middle Ages and Renaissance and left a mark during their own lifetimes. These women are the focus of this biographical dictionary.According to the introduction, this work is aimed at the "unsung" women who were extraordinary for either their accomplishments or their tragic lives or both. The 70 women covered moved outside what was considered a "woman's sphere" and participated in the religious, political, and social changes that are hallmarks of this period. They lived between the tenth and seventeenth centuries and not all were Western European but also from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Africa. Among them are Indian devotional poet Akka Mahadcvi, Italian painter Sofonisba Anguissola, Polish queen Jadwiga, and Japanese author Murasaki Shikibu.The entries are arranged in alphabetical order, with a brief subheading noting country and occupation. As much information as is known about the person is summarized, including education, family, and achievements. Each article ends with a bibliography of additional sources of information. A number of the articles include portraits.Cross-references to other entries are provided within the text and indicated by bold type. Two useful appendixes, "Notable Women by Title, Occupation, or Main Area of Interest" and "Notable Women by Country or Region," help to locate individuals by categories. A general "Timeline of Historical Events" helps place the women in relation to major events. A bibliography of 21 titles on medieval and Renaissance topics will guide the user to additional information.The articles are well written and signed by the authors. Speculation is labeled clearly as speculation because the records on many women are incomplete. For example, most of the information on French physician Jacqueline Felicie comes from her 1322 trial for practicing medicine without a license.Because it expands the information available on women who are often just mentioned in passing in historical works, this volume is interesting for both browsing and research. Its somewhat narrow scope makes it appropriate for academic and public libraries with collections on women's or medieval and Renaissance studies, although its writing style would appeal to a high-school audience as well. <i>RBB</i><br /><i>Copyright  American Library Association. All rights reserved</i>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN IN HISTORY
  
  
  70 Remarkable Women Who Made A Difference, Inspired & Broke Barriers
  
  
  LEAH GAIL
  
  
  
  
  
  © Copyright 2021 Leah Gail - All rights reserved.
  
  
  The contents of this book may not be reproduced, duplicated, or transmitted
  without direct written permission from the author.
  
  
  Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against
  the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the
  information herein, either directly or indirectly.
  
  
  Legal Notice:
  
  
  This book is copyright protected. This is only for personal use. You cannot
  amend, distribute, sell, use, quote, or paraphrase any part or the content
  within this book without the consent of the author.
  
  
  Disclaimer Notice:
  
  
  Please note the information contained within this document is for educational
  and entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide
  accurate, up-to-date, and reliable complete information. No warranties of any
  kind are e