There were indeed mass produced textiles and clothing, but, as you say, they were not mechanised. Usually the thread was spun by poor women, called 'spinsters'. Spinning was a trade that could be taken up by single women, which gives meaning to the modern use of the word. The guilds had great influence on women's labour and trade in the medieval period. Great talk, thank you.

This is excellent! And you have a new subscriber. Thank you.

Professor Henry, this is incredibly fascinating stuff.

Thank you. You answered a lot of questions I had as it relate to polygamy/monogamy in Jewish culture. I have also wanted to know Jewish women's role in medieval period.

This was a great series! I hope it isn't over yet, but I have enjoyed it greatly so far

The Yiddish expression of “ A Yuhr met a mitvach” א יאהר מיט איין מיטוואך , ובתולה נשאת ביום רביעי . Comes from the custom to wait for a year between the betrothal and marriage.

Hi Dr. Abramson, can you check why your latest videos don't have automatic subtitles? It realy helps sometimes to follow the lecture when you are not a born Englush speaker. Thank you for the most interesting lectures.

I was watching a video before I made a search to learn more about Medieval Jewish history= The Bodies in the well-true history. One entire family was thrown into the narrow but deep well in Norwich England. They just dumped them in one by one on top of each other where they died. 12th century Jewish persecution. I'm sick of this world, there is nothing good in it anymore.

well done and for real interesting historic context on such an important custom!

well done and for real interesting!!

Many jokes deal with the difficulties in finding suitable marriage partners, and the role therein played by professional match makers: a movie from 1940 entitled "Americaner Schadchen" must deal with the issue in modern times. But, your story reminded me of one specific joke in "Judische Witze" gathered by Salcia Landmann: A father who is desperate to marry his daughter off asks the schadchen: "please, quickly find my daughter a suitable husband. He doesn't have to be learned or intelligent: my daughter is. He doesn't have to be handsome, my daughter is beautiful. He doesn't have to be from a rich family, I am wealthy. But, he has to be morally flawless (the original word was "sittlich").

ועכשיו שאנו נוהגים לקדש בנותינו אפי' קטנות היינו משום שבכל יום ויום הגלות מתגבר עלינו ואם יש סיפק ביד אדם עכשיו לתת לבתו נדוניא שמא לאחר זמן לא יהיה סיפק בידו ותשב בתו עגונה לעולם: (Tosefot Kedishin 41)

Hey, when will you do the History of Jews in India ??

The Tosefot says נשים שלנו חשובות הם . I can think of two places off hand , one regarding reclining by the Seder ( which is brought in Halacha רמ״א סי׳ תע״ב), the other regarding wearing jewellery were there is no proper Eiruv. The status of woman in Middle Ages Europe Was regarded higher than in Talmudic times. This being because the women played a big role in the commerce , leaving their husbands to devote more time for study .

This arrangement of a relationship between a man and woman without marriage is an islamic concept called surriya.