"Accounts of Eleanor of Aquitaine's life provide a rare glimpse into women's lives during the medieval period, and through an admittedly extraordinary figure, we are able to draw some general conclusions about marriage and motherhood. She lived in a remarkable age - the 12th century - that saw significant advances in both the intellectual and emotional spheres. Scholars explored new areas of philosophy and science and also began to reflect on relationships and what it meant to be human and an individual." "Nineteen biographical sketches bring the topics to life, and 15 primary documents - including songs, letters, and poems - provide a close-up glimpse of how the people of the time saw their own world. Genealogical tables, maps, chronology, and a timeline provide useful information quickly. The book concludes with an annotated bibliography and an index."--Jacket.