Infertility in Medieval and Early Modern Europe : Premodern Views on Childlessness

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 views have shaped understandings our own time, this book is highly relevant interest to students and scholars interested in discourses around infertility across history.--Page [4] of cover Contents List of Figures 1 Introduction The Relevance of Infertility: Current Complaints and Historical Cases Analytical Perspectives: Questions of Identity and Critique of Normativity Key Concept: On the Plurality and Diversity of (In)Fertility Notes 2 Theology: Salvation Stories of (In)Fertility Hebrew Bible Stories: Infertility as Disgrace Divine Mandate to Multiply Rachel’s and Hannah’s Childlessness Onan’s Refusal to Reproduce Promises for the Barren New Testament Statements: Critique of Family Miraculous Birth in Luke Jesus’ Critique of Family Paul’s Ideal of Chastity Patristic and Scholastic Doctrine: Sex and Sin Reformulations of the Mandate to Multiply Recommendations for Reducing Pleasure Required Reproductive Readiness Josephite Marriage as a Model Luther’s Doctrine of Marriage: Fertility as an Urge The Elemental Urge Concepts of Marriage and Gender Prospects Notes 3 Medicine: Body Concepts of (In)Fertility Premodern Notions of Reproduction: Seed Theories and Teachings on Sex Ancient Knowledge of Procreation Medieval Knowledge of Conception Sex as Preventive Health Care Medical Diagnoses: Physical Causes of Childlessness Imbalances in the Body Sterility Tests Seven Barriers to Reproduction Nature and Morality Methods of Promoting Fertility: Hormone Therapy and Fertility Girdles Sophisticated Remedies Baths, Incenses, and Ointments Animal Testicles and Human Milk Medicine and Magic The Medicalized Sex: ‘Being a Woman’ Equals ‘Being Ill’ Pathologizing Women Anne of Bohemia and Her Longing for Children Bikini Medicine in the Middle Ages Prospects Notes 4 Jurisprudence: Laws on (In)Fertility Ecclesiastical Marriage Law: Impotent Men and Women Who Want Children Impotence as an Impediment to Marriage Women Longing for Children Evidence of Impotence Potency Problems of a Different Kind Inheritance Law: Childless Testators and Chosen Children Privileged Heirs Child or Church? Adoption, Affatomy, and Anwünschung Criminal Law: Castrated Men and Complaining Women The Value of Fertility Castration as Punishment Women’s Complaints about Castration Prospects Notes 5 Demonology: Metaphysics of (In)Fertility Demonic Magic: Impotence from Love’s Revenge The Power of Evil Narrative evidence Penis Stealing Barbara’s Confession Demonic Means: Legal and Illegal Ways to Have a Child The Demonologists’ Diagnosis Prohibited means Rooting Out the Causes Demonic Infertility: The Devil’s Reproductive Techniques Union With the Devil Demonic Semen Transfer Defining fatherhood Demonic Fertility: The Devil’s and Witches’ Children Phantom Pregnancy Changelings Family Stigma Prospects Notes 6 Ethics: Ideals of Life with (In)Fertility Marriage Laments: The Fortune of the Childfree Reproductive Concerns Circulate Freedom Through Childlessness Abelard at the Crossroads The Ambivalence of Parenthood Wedding Speeches: The Fortune of Parents Children as an Investment in the Future Family Happiness and the Joys of Fatherhood Children as Treasure and Bond of Love Having Children as a Salvific Experience Infertility Catechesis: The Misfortune of Childless Women Pastoral Care for Infertile Women Advice to Accept Stigma Prospects Notes 7 Epilogue Uneven Visibility: Childless Men and Childless Women Narrating Childlessness: Stories Told and Stories Untold Comparative (In)Fertility Research: Analogies and Differences Notes Bibliography Index