Description: An overlooked source of liquid capital for the growth of London's late medieval economy, this book argues, was the wealth that women accumulated through inheritance, dowry, and dower. Wealth recirculated among merchants and tradesmen through the marriage of their daughters and widows. Women's roles in trades in wage labor did not contribute as much to London's economy as wealth passed through marriage.
Review Quotes: "Hanawalt's focus on women's economic roles and activities is a bold way to explore the roles and lives of urban women...A valuable summary of a complex subject, placed in the context of major themes and areas of scholarly inquiry. The author's usual deft touch in combining numbers, case studies, comparative material, and broad and well-informed judgments shows to advantage."--Joel T. Rosenthal, The American Historical Review
"Leading medieval historian Hanawalt (Ohio State) has created a standard on London, medieval, and women's history...Not only well researched but also beautifully written, this book's clarity makes it useful to undergraduates as well as scholars...Essential."--CHOICE"[Hanawalt] has read the documents in imaginative ways...[T]his book is likely to stand as the clearest look at women in the late-medieval London economy for a long time."--Speculum"Hanawalt provides fresh evidence, and is judicious about the claims that she makes."-- Journal of Social History