Consent and Coercion to Sex and Marriage in Ancient and Medieval Societies

by Angeliki E. Laiou (editor)

This collection of essays addresses a number of questions regarding the role of consent in marriage and in sexual relations outside of marriage in ancient and medieval societies. Ranging from ancient Greece and Rome to the Byzantine Empire and Western Medieval Europe, the contributors examine rape, seduction, and the role of consent in establishing the punishment of one or both parties; the issue of marital debt and spousal rape; and the central question of what is perceived as coercion and what may be the validity or value of coerced consent. Other concepts, such as honor and shame, are also investigated.

Because of the wide range--in time and place--of societies studied, the reader is able to see many different approaches to the question of consent and coercion as well as a certain evolution, in which Christianity plays an important role.

Genres: History

298 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 1995

About the author

Angeliki Laiou was a Greek Byzantinist.

Reviews

[Elisa Enzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. A little hard to comprehend if you lack previous knowledge of Ancient Greek and Latin terms, but it's not too difficult to catch up while you read. The parts on Byzantium and the Middle Age are way better written then the previous sections.
Sadly, it was a bit of a sterile piece, obviously planned to be a mere summary of the seminary the authors hosted. I guess it can be better enjoyed by their colleagues rather than by people who wish to learn a little more about consent in ancient societies.