An overarching history of women in the Christian Church from antiquity to the Reformation
perfect for advanced undergraduates and seminary students alike A History of Women in
Christianity to 1600 presents a continuous narrative account of women's engagement with the
Christian tradition from its origins to the seventeenth century synthesizing a diverse range
of scholarship into a single easily accessible volume. Locating significant individuals and
events within their historical context this well-balanced textbook offers an assessment of
women's contributions to the development of Christian doctrine while providing insights into
how structural and environmental factors have shaped women's experience of Christianity.
Written by a prominent scholar in the field the book addresses complex discourses concerning
women and gender in the Church including topics often ignored in broad narratives of Christian
history. Students will explore the ways women served in liturgical roles within the church the
experience of martyrdom for early Christian women how the social and political roles of women
changed after the fall of Rome the importance of women in the re-evangelization of Western
Europe and more. Through twelve chapters organized chronologically this comprehensive text:
* Examines conceptions of sex and gender tracing back their roots to the Jewish Hellenistic
and Roman culture * Provides a unique view of key women in the Church in the Middle Ages
including the rise of women's monasticism and the impact of the Inquisition * Compares and
contrasts each of the major confessions of the Church during the Reformation * Explores
lesser-known figures from beyond the Western European tradition A History of Women in
Christianity to 1600 is an essential textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in
Christian traditions historical theology religious studies medieval history Reformation
history and gender history as well as an invaluable resource for seminary students and
scholars in the field.
