Final answer:
In the Middle Ages, wives had a range of responsibilities in their households including maintaining the home, caring for children, and in some instances, contributing to the family income through domestic or non-domestic professions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Middle Ages, a wife had various responsibilities within her household, tailored to different social standings and specific circumstances. Middle-class wives were often tasked with the upkeep of the household, where they were expected to maintain order and cleanliness, care for the children, and assist in displaying the family's status through manners and consumer goods. They often did this with the help of servants and were deeply involved in upbringing of children and ensuring the family's prosperity.
Women's role as homemakers also extended to managing the household's provisions, overseeing dependents, and engaging in activities such as spinning wool. Some women in Roman times and beyond also held non-domestic professions, contributing to family income. During these eras, the existence of many wives was closely tied to their husbands, with their identities and responsibilities largely defined by their marital status.
In different cultures and historical periods, women's responsibilities could also include significant labor, such as farming and trading, particularly if the husband was absent due to war or other reasons. Women were also expected to shoulder domestic responsibilities while contributing to the family's economic needs, which could involve various forms of home-based work such as taking in laundry, childcare, or doing piecework.
The responsibilities of a wife would evolve over time, with changing societal structures, technological innovations, and economic demands, but maintaining the home and caring for family members remained central to the role of women in the household across different eras.