Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years - Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times - Softcover

  • 4.31 out of 5 stars
    2,459 ratings by Goodreads
9780393313482: Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years - Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times

Synopsis

"A fascinating history of...[a craft] that preceded and made possible civilization itself." ―New York Times Book Review

New discoveries about the textile arts reveal women's unexpectedly influential role in ancient societies.

Twenty thousand years ago, women were making and wearing the first clothing created from spun fibers. In fact, right up to the Industrial Revolution the fiber arts were an enormous economic force, belonging primarily to women.

Despite the great toil required in making cloth and clothing, most books on ancient history and economics have no information on them. Much of this gap results from the extreme perishability of what women produced, but it seems clear that until now descriptions of prehistoric and early historic cultures have omitted virtually half the picture.

Elizabeth Wayland Barber has drawn from data gathered by the most sophisticated new archaeological methods―methods she herself helped to fashion. In a "brilliantly original book" (Katha Pollitt, Washington Post Book World), she argues that women were a powerful economic force in the ancient world, with their own industry: fabric.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Elizabeth Wayland Barber is the author of Women’s Work, The Dancing Goddesses, and The Mummies of Ürümchi. Professor emerita of archaeology and linguistics at Occidental College, she lives in California.

Excerpt. İ Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Among the Batak the act of creation itself is viewed as women's special work, not only in production of babies, which grow where nothing has existed before, but also in creating cloth, which comes into being where nothing has existed before. Cloth and its making are thus taken as analogs for life and birth, in every sense.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherW. W. Norton & Company
  • Publication date1996
  • ISBN 10 0393313484
  • ISBN 13 9780393313482
  • BindingPaperback
  • LanguageEnglish
  • Edition number1
  • Number of pages336
  • Rating
    • 4.31 out of 5 stars
      2,459 ratings by Goodreads

Buy Used

Condition: Good
"A fascinating history of[a craft... Learn more about this copy

Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.

Destination, rates & speeds

Add to basket

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780393035063: Women's Work: The First 20,000 Years : Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0393035069 ISBN 13:  9780393035063
Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc, 1994
Hardcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Softcover

Seller: Ergodebooks, Houston, TX, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Softcover. Condition: Good. "A fascinating history of[a craft] that preceded and made possible civilization itself." -New York Times Book Review New discoveries about the textile arts reveal women's unexpectedly influential role in ancient societies.Twenty thousand years ago, women were making and wearing the first clothing created from spun fibers. In fact, right up to the Industrial Revolution the fiber arts were an enormous economic force, belonging primarily to women.Despite the great toil required in making cloth and clothing, most books on ancient history and economics have no information on them. Much of this gap results from the extreme perishability of what women produced, but it seems clear that until now descriptions of prehistoric and early historic cultures have omitted virtually half the picture.Elizabeth Wayland Barber has drawn from data gathered by the most sophisticated new archaeological methods-methods she herself helped to fashion. In a "brilliantly original book" (Katha Pollitt, Washington Post Book World), she argues that women were a powerful economic force in the ancient world, with their own industry: fabric. Seller Inventory # SONG0393313484

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 18.75
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Softcover

Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 0.6. Seller Inventory # 0393313484-2-3

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 30.96
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Softcover

Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: Fine. Like New condition. Great condition, but not exactly fully crisp. The book may have been opened and read, but there are no defects to the book, jacket or pages. 0.6. Seller Inventory # 353-0393313484-lkn

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 30.97
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton, 1995
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Paperback Signed

Seller: Ancient World Books, Toronto, ON, Canada

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Gift inscription from author to Jenifer Neils on titlepage in ink. Else minor shelfwear. ; 11.7 X 5.4 X 0.9 inches; 336 pages; Signed by Author. Seller Inventory # 35615

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 25.00
Convert currency
Shipping: US$ 6.00
From Canada to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Softcover

Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: Fair. Acceptable/Fair condition. Book is worn, but the pages are complete, and the text is legible. Has wear to binding and pages, may be ex-library. 0.6. Seller Inventory # 353-0393313484-acp

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 33.18
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Softcover

Seller: Zoom Books Company, Lynden, WA, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: good. Book is in good condition and may include underlining highlighting and minimal wear. The book can also include "From the library of" labels. May not contain miscellaneous items toys, dvds, etc. . We offer 100% money back guarantee and 24 7 customer service. Seller Inventory # ZBV.0393313484.G

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 33.55
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Softcover

Seller: Books Unplugged, Amherst, NY, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: Good. Buy with confidence! Book is in good condition with minor wear to the pages, binding, and minor marks within 0.6. Seller Inventory # bk0393313484xvz189zvxgdd

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 45.99
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
Used Paperback

Seller: Toscana Books, AUSTIN, TX, U.S.A.

Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars 4-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Paperback. Condition: very good. Purchase pre-owned books for prompt service and customer satisfaction. Seller Inventory # UnScanned0393313484

Contact seller

Buy Used

US$ 51.32
Convert currency
Shipping: US$ 4.30
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
New Softcover

Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: New. Book is in NEW condition. 0.6. Seller Inventory # 0393313484-2-1

Contact seller

Buy New

US$ 57.41
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

Stock Image

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland
Published by W. W. Norton & Company, 1996
ISBN 10: 0393313484 ISBN 13: 9780393313482
New Softcover

Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.

Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars 5-star rating, Learn more about seller ratings

Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published 0.6. Seller Inventory # 353-0393313484-new

Contact seller

Buy New

US$ 57.42
Convert currency
Shipping: FREE
Within U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket

There are 9 more copies of this book

View all search results for this book