Property And Virginity

Beskrivelse

This book explores how Christianity transformed Icelandic society, particularly through new marriage laws introduced in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It delves into the evolving legal and cultural practices surrounding marriage during this time.

An in-depth look at how Christian marriage laws reshaped Icelandic family, property, and gender dynamics.

Property and Virginity investigates Icelandic legal codes, marriage contracts, and court case documents, drawing on a wealth of previously unexamined sources. This groundbreaking research traces the slow Christianization of marriage in Iceland, a process that unfolded over several centuries.

The study reveals how these changes impacted family and kinship politics, inheritance rights, property transfers, and gender roles. As canon law began to influence the traditional betrothal rituals, the importance of a bride’s virginity increased significantly.

Despite these religious shifts, marriage in the Late Middle Ages still retained many aspects of its earlier function as a property contract between families. However, a new understanding of gender relations emerged, recognizing women as active participants in the marriage contract.

Instead of the traditional handshake between the bride’s father and her future husband, the agreement was now sealed between the spouses themselves. The rituals tied to these bonds took on fresh significance, transforming marriage from a purely financial arrangement into a union with religious meaning and a closer partnership between husband and wife.

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