Introduction: Approaches to Childbirth in the Middle Ages
Margaret Cormack
T h e f o l w i n g a r c s d in session titled “Childbirth the Middle Ages” at annual meeting of Medieval Academy America 2006. We are not aiming to present an exhaustive treatment subject. Indeed, majority original papers dealt with periphery europe. Maeve Callan’s focuses on Ireland, while those Anders Frojmark and Nancy Wicker deal Scandinavia. Donald Prudlo traces historical trail from Italy Ireland. Two more articles have since been added. Valerie garver writes about Carolingian empire mid-eighth late ninth century, area covering much Continental western Fiona Harris-Stoertz looks legal related materials France england twelfth thirteenth centuries. regrettably, we were unable include using eastern european, Jewish, or Muslim sources. The experiences women who generally literate, either modern sense being able read write medieval Latin. vernaculars these would spoken romance, germanic, Celtic languages. However, our evidence is rarely themselves. oral lore that must passed mother daughter, experienced delivery infants giving birth for first time, lost. As pointed out by Frojmark, some could be called midwives (obstetrices Latin) designate their function assisting birth, even if they neighbors relatives rather than paid professionals. authors written provide childbirth men—as often as not, celibate men without firsthand knowledge In vast cases, wrote vernacular
Journal of the History of Sexuality