Courtesan
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [May 2007] | + | A '''courtesan''' in [[16th century|mid-16th century]] usage was a high-class [[prostitute]] or [[Mistress (lover)|mistress]], especially one associated with rich, powerful, or upper-class men who provided luxuries and status in exchange for her services. In [[Renaissance|Renaissance Europe]], courtesans played an important role in upper-class society, sometimes taking the place of wives at social functions.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} As it was customary during this time for royal couples to lead separate lives—commonly marrying simply to preserve bloodlines and to secure political alliances—men would often seek sexual gratification and companionship from a courtesan. This was a large practice in [[Mughal]] [[India]] till the [[British Raj]], where they were commonly known as [[tawaif]] and were often also skilled dancers. There have been a few isolated cases of courtesans providing services to wealthy females, however.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} Courtesans usually enjoyed more freedoms than was typical of women at the time. For example, they were financially stable and independent. Being in control of their own resources meant that they did not need to rely on their spouses or male relatives to survive, as was the case for the majority of women.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/{{PAGENAMEE}}] [May 2007] |
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A courtesan in mid-16th century usage was a high-class prostitute or mistress, especially one associated with rich, powerful, or upper-class men who provided luxuries and status in exchange for her services. In Renaissance Europe, courtesans played an important role in upper-class society, sometimes taking the place of wives at social functions.Template:Fact As it was customary during this time for royal couples to lead separate lives—commonly marrying simply to preserve bloodlines and to secure political alliances—men would often seek sexual gratification and companionship from a courtesan. This was a large practice in Mughal India till the British Raj, where they were commonly known as tawaif and were often also skilled dancers. There have been a few isolated cases of courtesans providing services to wealthy females, however.Template:Fact Courtesans usually enjoyed more freedoms than was typical of women at the time. For example, they were financially stable and independent. Being in control of their own resources meant that they did not need to rely on their spouses or male relatives to survive, as was the case for the majority of women.[1] [May 2007]
