Abortion in the early Middle Ages, c.500-900
When a Spanish monk struggled to find the right words convey his unjust expulsion from monastery in desperate petition sixth-century king, he likened himself an aborted fetus. Centuries later, ninth-century queen found herself accused of abortion altogether more fleshly sense. Abortion haunts written record across early middle ages. Yet, centuries after fall Rome remain very much dark ages broader history abortion. This book, first treat subject this period, tells story how individuals and communities, ecclesiastical secular authorities, construed as social moral problem number post-Roman societies, including Visigothic Spain, Merovingian Gaul, Ireland, Anglo-Saxon England Carolingian empire. It argues medieval authors readers actively deliberated on cluster related questions, that church tradition was evolving practice. sheds light neglected variety responses generated by different intellectual practices, discipline, dispute settlement strategies political legitimation, brings into conversation with key questions about gender, sexuality, Christianization, penance law. Ranging miracles hagiography, polemical letters which churchmen rivals fetuses flung womb uncomfortable imaginings resurrected theological speculation, volume also illuminates complex cultural significance societies. Zubin Mistry is Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at Queen Mary University London.
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