Settle in for a slow, sleepy medieval history for sleep episode about prostitutes, courtesans, brothels, civic regulation, women’s lives, and survival in the Middle Ages.

In this episode of Boring History for Sleep, we explore the lives of medieval prostitutes and courtesans, from women working in licensed brothels to those earning money in taverns, bathhouses, streets, and private homes. You’ll hear how towns controlled where sex workers could live and work, what they could wear, whom they could serve, and how closely their lives were watched by civic officials, church authorities, neighbors, and customers.

We’ll also look at violence, disease, poverty, public shame, legal punishment, and the constant risk of losing the limited protections offered by regulated brothels. This women’s and social history reveals the contradictions of a society that called prostitution sinful while treating it as a practical part of urban life.

This calm, long-form medieval history is made for sleep, bedtime, insomnia relief, relaxation, studying, and quiet background listening. Expect slow narration, women’s history, medieval prostitutes and courtesans, brothels, bathhouses, strange laws, religious attitudes, survival, scandal, and everyday life in the Middle Ages.

Want the adults-only side of history? Listen to The Bawdy Archive—our explicit companion podcast exploring sex, scandal, medicine, magic, women’s lives, and the medieval body—on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/boringhistoryforbedtime

AI disclosure: These show notes were generated with AI from the episode title and supplied episode information. Please review them for accuracy; the episode audio is the authoritative source.