Some were feisty and fiery. Others were cool and dangerous. All were incredibly courageous. Outrageous Women of The Middle Ages took on the challenge of their world--and didn't worry about ruffling a few feathers.<br><br>Among the outrageous women you'll meet are: <br>* Eleanor of Aquitaine--queen of France and later England, she led a group of women on the Second Crusade and created her own financial system <br>* Lady Murasaki Shikibu--besides being a wife and mother, she learned the "forbidden" language of Chinese and wrote the world's first novel <br>* Aud the Deep-Minded--a Viking wise woman and explorer who led her clan, grandchildren and all, on a risky voyage from Scotland to Iceland <br>* Hildegarde of Bingen--the German nun who, late in life, became a composer, a botanist, and founded convents <br>* Damia al-Kahina--a nomadic freedom fighter, skilled at peacemaking and war, who kept her North African homeland free