A new book titled “Death Control in the West 1500–1800: Sex Ratios at Baptism in Italy, France and England” challenges the existing understanding of infanticide practices in early modern Europe. The author, Gregory Hanlon, asserts that infanticide by married parents was a far more common occurrence than previously believed. Hanlon highlights the lack of research on sex ratios of infants brought for baptism shortly after birth, which reveals notable increases in male baptisms during times of famine or disease. The book sheds light on the prevalence of infanticide in rural Tuscany, where up to a third of live births may have been affected. The research also emphasizes that infanticide was not solely the act of a single woman, but rather involved a wide range of parents across different social classes and religious affiliations. Hanlon argues that society did not view infanticide as a crime, and the punishment for such acts was often lenient. The book aims to prompt a deeper exploration of infanticide in historical and contemporary contexts, urging readers to consider its impact on present discussions of reproductive rights.
More information:
Gregory Hanlon, Death Control in the West 1500–1800, (2022). DOI: 10.4324/9781003289784
Citation:
New book suggests historical infanticide in Europe was likely more widespread than estimated (2023, July 17)
retrieved 17 July 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-07-historical-infanticide-europe-widespread.html
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