Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s Wife
Because the perception of infertility in medieval Europe ranged from the extremely religious view of it as a malediction of God or the devil’s work, to the reasonable medical conception of it as a sort of disease to treat, it is very difficult to determine the general attitudes of ordinary people to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Korean Society for the History of Medicine
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Uisahak |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.medhist.or.kr/upload/pdf/kjmh-25-3-519.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818061346739060736 |
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| author | Jong Kuk NAM |
| author_facet | Jong Kuk NAM |
| author_sort | Jong Kuk NAM |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Because the perception of infertility in medieval Europe ranged from the extremely religious view of it as a malediction of God or the devil’s work, to the reasonable medical conception of it as a sort of disease to treat, it is very difficult to determine the general attitudes of ordinary people towards infertility. This article seeks to elucidate the common social perception of infertility and its treatment in late medieval Europe by analyzing the case of Margherita Datini, an Italian merchant’s wife who lived in the 1400s. It relies heavily on the documents left by her and her husband, Francesco Datini; the couple left many records, including letters of correspondence between them. Margherita and those around her regarded infertility not as the devil’s curse or a punishment by God but as a disease that can be cured. Margherita and her husband, Francesco, tried hard to cure their infertility. They received treatment and prescriptions from several doctors while also relying on folk remedies, religious therapies, and even magical remedies. The comparative analysis of Datini documents, medical books, and theoretical treatises or prescriptive essays by clerics suggests that the general perception of infertility in medieval Europe was located between the extremely religious and modern medical conceptions of it. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:46:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-195f95a4e2634d6b8959174cfe296726 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1225-505X 2093-5609 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:46:52Z |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | Korean Society for the History of Medicine |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Uisahak |
| spelling | doaj.art-195f95a4e2634d6b8959174cfe2967262022-12-22T01:46:23ZengKorean Society for the History of MedicineUisahak1225-505X2093-56092016-12-0125351955610.13081/kjmh.2016.25.5192326Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s WifeJong Kuk NAM0Department of History, Ewha Womans UniversityBecause the perception of infertility in medieval Europe ranged from the extremely religious view of it as a malediction of God or the devil’s work, to the reasonable medical conception of it as a sort of disease to treat, it is very difficult to determine the general attitudes of ordinary people towards infertility. This article seeks to elucidate the common social perception of infertility and its treatment in late medieval Europe by analyzing the case of Margherita Datini, an Italian merchant’s wife who lived in the 1400s. It relies heavily on the documents left by her and her husband, Francesco Datini; the couple left many records, including letters of correspondence between them. Margherita and those around her regarded infertility not as the devil’s curse or a punishment by God but as a disease that can be cured. Margherita and her husband, Francesco, tried hard to cure their infertility. They received treatment and prescriptions from several doctors while also relying on folk remedies, religious therapies, and even magical remedies. The comparative analysis of Datini documents, medical books, and theoretical treatises or prescriptive essays by clerics suggests that the general perception of infertility in medieval Europe was located between the extremely religious and modern medical conceptions of it.http://www.medhist.or.kr/upload/pdf/kjmh-25-3-519.pdfMargherita DatiniFrancesco DatiniinfertilityMedieval EuropeFlorencePratomedica booksGoddevildisease |
| spellingShingle | Jong Kuk NAM Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s Wife Uisahak Margherita Datini Francesco Datini infertility Medieval Europe Florence Prato medica books God devil disease |
| title | Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s Wife |
| title_full | Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s Wife |
| title_fullStr | Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s Wife |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s Wife |
| title_short | Social Perception of Infertility and Its Treatment in Late Medieval Italy: Margherita Datini, an Italian Merchant’s Wife |
| title_sort | social perception of infertility and its treatment in late medieval italy margherita datini an italian merchant s wife |
| topic | Margherita Datini Francesco Datini infertility Medieval Europe Florence Prato medica books God devil disease |
| url | http://www.medhist.or.kr/upload/pdf/kjmh-25-3-519.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jongkuknam socialperceptionofinfertilityanditstreatmentinlatemedievalitalymargheritadatinianitalianmerchantswife |