The Making of the Medieval Family: Symmetry, Structure, and Sentiment
David Herlihy
Across the long centuries of Middle Ages, households seem to have acquired three distinctive characteristics. In ancient Mediterranean world, judging from terminology used describe them and failure use as units in social surveys, it appears that were not commen surable. From Carolingian age, however, medieval do appear commensurable within a symmetrical array. other words, observer (or surveyor) was likely see roughly same kind household no matter what direction he looked—toward urban or rural areas, up down scale. about twelfth century, new form descent group, agnatic lineage, comes be superimposed upon, but does really replace, older bilineal kin group. This lends household, at least elite classes, structure. central late particular forms emotional bonds come link members. fostering these developments, religious laws values highly influential although never solely determinant.
Journal of Family History