A historical study of economic life of women from 13th century A. D. to the end of the 15th century

Abstract

In this study an attempt is made to study the Economic life of women from about the thirteenth century A. D. to the end of fifteenth century A. D. This period is generally known as the medieval period of Sri Lanka, the period after the Magha‟s invasion. In order to determine the place of women in society, it is necessary to study the attitudes of men towards women and particularly the services rendered by women in their various roles as mothers, wives, sisters etc., with special reference to their involvement in economic, political, social and religious affairs. Any serious attempt to study these aspects is beset with certain difficulties, which must be borne in mind from the beginning. On the one hand, the chronicles provide comparatively little information on those activities of women to which the student of social history should attach importance. On the other hand, even the information of chronicles that we find is limited to women belonging to courts circles or to the nobility. The role of ordinary women in society would certainly deserve great attention, because some of our literary sources reveal this aspect. In addition to that, there are a number of epigraphic records which contain much information about position of women. The research is mainly based on primary sources. Wherever necessary, material will also be obtained from limited secondary sources on the social history.