Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

This book examines discourses around infertility and views of childlessness in medieval and early modern Europe. Whereas in our own time reproductive behaviour is regulated by demographic policy in the interest of upholding the intergenerational contract, premodern rulers strove to secure the succession to their thrones and preserve family heritage. Regardless of status, infertility could have drastic consequences, above all for women, and lead to social discrimination, expulsion, and divorce. Rather than outlining a history of discrimination against or the suffering of infertile couples, this book explores the mechanisms used to justify the unequal treatment of persons without children. Exploring views on childlessness across theology, medicine, law, demonology, and ethics, it undertakes a comprehensive examination of 'fertility' as an identity category from the perspective of new approaches in gender and intersectionality research. Shedding light on how premodern viewshave shaped understandings our own time, this book is highly relevant interest to students and scholars interested in discourses around infertility across history. Regina Toepfer is Chair of Medieval German Literature at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany. .

World history --- History --- History of Europe --- nieuwste tijd --- geschiedenis --- sociale geschiedenis --- Europese geschiedenis --- nieuwe tijd --- middeleeuwen --- anno 500-1499 --- anno 1500-1799 --- anno 1800-1999 --- Europe --- Women --- Fertility, Human. --- Social history. --- Women's History / History of Gender. --- History of Medieval Europe. --- History of Early Modern Europe. --- Fertility. --- Social History. --- History. --- 476-1492. --- 1492-.