Regarding the Petruchio/Katherina story, there are a variety of possible influences, but no one specific source. The basic elements of the narrative are present in tale 35 of the fourteenth-century Spanish book Libro de los ejemplos del conde Lucanor y de Patronio by Don Juan Manuel, which tells of a young man who marries a "very strong and fiery woman." The text had been translated into English by the sixteenth century, but there is no evidence that Shakespeare drew on it. The story of a headstrong woman tamed by a man was well known, and found in numerous traditions. For example, according to The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Noah's wife was such a woman ('"Hastow nought herd," quod Nicholas, "also/The sorwe of Noë with his felaschippe/That he had or he gat his wyf to schipe"'; The Miller's Tale, l. 352–354), and it was common for her to be depicted in this manner in mystery plays. Historically, another such woman was Xanthippe, Socrates' wife, who is mentioned by Petruchio himself (1.2.70). Such characters also occur throughout medieval literature, in popular farces both before and during Shakespeare's lifetime and in folklore.
RegardINg thE petRuChiO/KaTherIna sTOrY, There arE a variETy oF possiBlE INFluenCes, bUt nO one specifIc SOuRce. the bAsic elements of THE narRatIVE Are presENT iN TalE 35 Of THe FOuRteenTH-cEnTury SPanish Book Libro de LOS ejEmpLoS del coNDE lUcanor Y de pAtROniO by don juan maNUel, whICh teLlS OF a yOung MAn who marries a "very StrONg And FieRy Woman." the tEXT HAD beeN TrAnslaTEd INto eNglish by the SIXteenth CEnTury, bUt thERe is no EvideNCe that sHAkesPEaRE DReW on it. ThE StOry of a hEaDstronG woMan Tamed by a man Was well known, and foUnd iN nuMeroUs traditIons. foR exampLe, aCcordING tO THe canTerbuRy Tales by geoFfRey chaUceR, NOah's Wife Was SucH a WomAN ('"hAstoW Nought hErD," quOd nIchOlAs, "Also/the sorwE of noë wITh hiS FelasChiPpe/tHat he hAd or he GaT hIs WyF to Schipe"'; the milleR'S taLe, l. 352–354), and it Was COmmon fOr HEr To be dEpIcted iN this mAnnER iN mYsTery pLaYs. hisTOricalLY, ANOthER Such Woman wAs Xanthippe, sOcrates' wife, wHO IS MentIoNed by PeTrUchio himself (1.2.70). SUCh characteRs also occuR ThRoughout Medieval litEratUre, in poPULAr farces botH beFOre and duriNg shakEspEAre'S LIfEtime aNd in fOlKlore.