placed on a higher pedestal then they had expected during this time. Women's positions in society had effects on the Renaissance period just as great as any mans. Noble women don't appear to have a hard life, but when you look between the lines they have it just as rough as any other women of that time. From the beginning, young women were required to learn the basic household skills that they would be expected to execute as wives and mothers. These women did perform textile work, but they did it for luxury, they did not actually need the items they would make. They would use gold thread in their tapestries instead of common cotton. Other domestic skills consisted of embroidering, spinning, weaving, managing economy, supervising servants, and nursing any ailing household members. Beyond this noble women were expected to entertain their husband's guests and see to the purchase and storage of supplies for the house. From their mothers, young ladies learned about the values of chastity, obedience and silence. Girls were expected to be seen and not heard. Going to church was most often the only time they would get any kind of social interaction outside their families. An early humanist once said he would rather see a girl "deaf and blind than over stimulated to pleasure." Teachings of virginity were strong in anyone's home for both boys and girls in all classes. Before a young lady was to be married, her father had to assure her fiancee's father that she was indeed a virgin. If a young woman lost her virginity, by rape or seduction, she was most likely to be abandoned by her family. This also meant she was liable to turn to prostitution as a form of employment. Marriage was more of a political game than a true love story. Most girls who did think seriously about marriage did not think falling in love was a basis for getting married. A young noble woman's father, or male kin, determined the fate of their daughter's hand. The decision was based on political, social, and business agreements between families. When a woman married, she was expected to bring in some of her father's wealth to the family. Marriage turned into more of a business transaction between the parents of the two fiances. Men often didn't see his wife-to-be until the day for the signing of the marriage contract. Adolescent girls of twelve or thirteen usually married older men. These men would be in their late twenties and early thirties on most occasions. This resulted in loveless marriages which led to many more problems. Adultery was constantly looked upon as a serious crime committed by a wife. Punishments of death and sever beatings seemed perfectly reasonable at the time. On the other hand, men were allowed to have mistresses and have sexual relations with monogamous partners, and this was considered okay by most people. Along with marriage came a variety of obligations and expectations. Bearing children was a difficult and complex procedure. It was made to also be a social interaction and gathering process. Men were completely excluded from this operation. Low-grade women had their female neighbors help deliver the child. Noble women had their nursemaids and mid-wives help with the process. There were often several women in the room during this process to overlook and help. It was considered a formality to be invited to watch the birth of a future princess or prince. There were no doctors to help a woman during her time. A midwife was always present because she knew how to direct birth and deal with problems that occurred. Infant mortality rates were extremely high for all the classes. Almost 50-55% of the children born during this time would not live to be four years old. Women had no relief from pregnancy. They often conceived again within weeks of giving birth. Twenty to twenty-five children from one mother was not uncommon. This was seen as desirable to the wealthy because it showed they were able to care for all of them. Some

Some common words found in the essay are:
Jacob Burckhardt, Western Europe, class women, noble women, Women Renaissance, peasant women, upper class, women expected, noble women expected, upper class women, wives mothers, renaissance period, noble class, abandoned family, women forbidden,
Approximate Word count = 2649
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)