Childbearing and Infancy in the Carolingian World
Valerie L. Garver
Childbearing and Infancy in the Carolingian World Valerie L. Garver (bio) The historical study of pregnancy childbearing began only relatively recently has been hindered by relative scarcity records concerning these particular female experiences. problem sources is especially acute for early Middle Ages; as a result, many studies pregnancy, childbearing, even childhood skim over period. Few medieval Europe have addressed history reproduction, none focused on Empire, perhaps greatest all kingdoms. This empire, whose most famous ruler was Charlemagne (d. 814), stretched from northern Iberian Italian peninsulas to North Sea Atlantic coast Slavic borderlands east Danube Elbe Rivers. After death Charlemagne’s son Louis Pious 840) civil war, however, Louis’s sons divided empire 843. Subsequent kings continued take imperial title until tenth century, when other royal families took former realms. In attempting build unified Christian north Alps, his descendants worked standardize religious legal practices throughout their territories.1 Clerics under [End Page 208] patronage wrote various texts helped formulate laws at ecclesiastical secular councils meant bring about increased consistency practice belief.2 reformers concerned themselves with issues ranging prohibitions work Sundays holidays regulation marriage, rules life mandatory recitation Lord’s Prayer Creed laity, chastisements immoral behavior priests, monks, nuns, laypersons attempts improve clerical education.3 Because reform learning that rulers encouraged well wide geographical expanse large corpus survives this era, some provide information reproduction. These must be approached care, however. Extant references childbirth, care infants come mainly miraculous hagiographical accounts, tracts, annals, histories, texts. followed own literary conventions served purposes than explaining Almost available also reflect experience elite, exception accounts extraordinary deliveries babies poor parents saints’ lives; unfortunately, vast majority women absent record All but handful topics were penned male clerics, who presented material an viewpoint, it therefore difficult, if not impossible, determine perspectives laymen, let alone laywomen. clerics used Bible Latin inherited antiquity, they applied society, needs may quite different those individuals living earlier eras. For example, medical containing gynecology obstetrics drew Byzantine late ancient renditions 209] commentaries classical Greek works such Hippocrates; existing manuscripts preserved monasteries, where studied men little opportunity comparing theory biological fact.4 reveal far more medicine within monastic intellectual traditions experiences women. Examining ideas childbirth necessitates use variety lands eighth, ninth, centuries, which contain scattered mentions subjects. Polyptychs, estate inventories institutions listings included workers goods labor owed, demography nutrition pertinent study. Utilizing data demands caution, since documents survive select generally concern low-status individuals. Polyptychs valuable limited view rural Empire. Narrative subject their...
Journal of the History of Sexuality|PubMed