These days, sex is everywhere. It's in our books, films, songs, TV shows, and now, even our history articles. Although some countries still impose strict rules upon sex, the fact is most western countries have relaxed in their approach to sex. Today, sex is something to be enjoyed, not to be ashamed of. But that hasn’t always been the case. In medieval times, sex came with so many rules and stipulations that it’s a wonder we didn’t go extinct.
Married People Only Please
In medieval times, the only people who were allowed to have sex were those who had exchanged marriage vows . Sex before these vows, especially in early medieval times, was seen as a major sin. In fact, anyone found having sex before marriage could be executed by disembowelment!
While this may sound pretty clear-cut, it wasn’t. There were two sets of vows, and this caused a certain degree of confusion. There were betrothal vows, which a couple used to pledge that one day they would get married, and the wedding vows which they said at the wedding. These vows held equal weight; once a couple had made a vow, they could have sex with no repercussions (besides the ones Mother Nature intended).
A betrothal vow could be broken, but a wedding vow could not, as the medieval church was not a big fan of divorce. The betrothal vow was not a loophole, however. People could not just get betrothed, have sex, and then call the wedding off. If a couple had sex after making the betrothal vow, they were automatically married in the eyes of the church. Not everyone realized this though, and so ecclesiastical courts spent a fair amount of time dealing with couples who didn’t realize they had gotten married.
The only way out of an unhappy marriage was sexual impotence . Since marriage was meant to lead to procreation, if your partner couldn’t produce babies, it was grounds for divorce. Some men attempted to use this as another loophole. They would claim impotence with their old wife, but magically be able to do the deed again with their new wife.
The Catholic Church soon grew wise to these shenanigans and instituted new rules. To corroborate any claims of impotence, a couple had to have been married for at least three years and witnesses were required.
Manuscript Leaf with Marriage Scene, from Decretals of Gregory IX, circa 1300 ( Public Domain )
The Catholic Church Decided When Sex Was Okay
The Catholic Church wasn’t happy merely telling people who they could have sex with. There were also strict rules as to when couples could enjoy each other's company.
The religious calendar featured “chaste days,” during which there could be no fornication. There was to be no sex during the major holidays (like Christmas and Easter), nor during the six weeks of Lent. Sundays and fish days were also out.
On top of this, sex was to be avoided during pregnancy, menstruation, and lactation. This wasn’t so much enforced by the church as recommended by squeamish medieval doctors . Overall, this didn’t leave a lot of days left out of the year.
In addition, on the days husbands and wives were allowed to have sex, they needed to be prepared. Under medieval law, sex had to be given on demand. Saint Paul had declared husbands and wives were to “deliver unto each other what was due” (sex). Both partners were equal when it came to the idea of marital debt. If your partner was in the mood, legally, you had to be too.
Luckily, as time progressed, the Catholic Church realized a lot of people were simply ignoring the rules and so it relaxed its stance. By the 12th century, most of these rules had become suggestions. The church preferred it if people spent their holy days worshiping God, but they weren’t going to kill you over it anymore.
Depiction of a couple in bed, from the 14th century book Tacuina Sanitatis ( Public Domain )
Rules on How the Deed was Done
The Catholic Church didn’t stop with rules on when or with whom people could have sex. According to the church, sex was all about one thing and one thing only: procreation. This meant that people should only have sex if they were actively trying to have a baby. Having sex purely for pleasure was a major sin.
Another major sin was trying anything too risqué in the bedroom. Sex was viewed as something the man did to the woman. The only sex that was permitted was sex in which men took the active role while women remained passive. This meant that only one sexual position was allowed, the so-called missionary pose.
Alternative sexual positions, for example, the female being on top, were seen as unnatural. It was believed that other positions undermined the man's natural masculine dominance. Bizarrely, some of the more liberal-minded theologians spent time ranking how sinful sexual positions were based on how natural they were. The more ‘unnatural’ the position, the more likely it was someone was going to hell.
The Catholic Church also attempted to regulate ‘unnatural’ sexual positions. A drawing from a 15th century French Book of Hours illuminated manuscript ( Public Domain )
Other kinds of sexual contact were also banned. This meant no oral sex, no anal sex, no masturbation, and no foreplay. Any sexual act that wasn’t aimed specifically towards making babies was deemed to be sodomy.
Breaking these rules came with some awfully harsh punishments. Sadly, this meant homosexuals, in particular, suffered greatly. Men found guilty of sodomy could face being burned at the stake , hung, or even starved to death.
The burning of the knight Richard Puller von Hohenburg with his servant before the walls of Zürich, for sodomy, circa 1483 ( Public Domain )
Breaking the Rules of Medieval Sex
There wasn’t any part of sex that the Catholic Church didn’t attempt to regulate, and punishments were often severe. The church just had one problem: people like having sex. Even worse, the more forbidden something is, the more attractive it often is as well.
Evidence suggests that despite all the church's threats, most people just ignored the rules, knowing as long as it was behind closed doors, the church would have a hard time proving anything.
If anything the church's stance on sex backfired. Their focus on sex being within marriage and only for procreation often pushed people away from their spouses. Many medieval people, especially those of the upper classes, had two partners. There was frequently one spouse, who they simply married and had babies with, and a second, extramarital romantic partner with whom they did all the fun, supposedly sinful things.
Conclusion
Of course, churches today still have teachings regarding sex that they expect their practitioners to follow. Thankfully, however, most people in the West are free to choose whether they follow them or not. It is a matter of belief, not law.
Today, our private lives are our own and what we do in private is our business. However, it is important to remember that as shocking or amusing as some of these rules appear today, there are parts of the world where these kinds of rules are still enforced. A look at these rules is a reminder that we shouldn’t take the freedoms we enjoy today for granted.
Top image: Medieval sex was frequently restricted by the Catholic Church in many ways. Detail from The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, circa 1500. Source: Public Domain
By Robbie Mitchell
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the greatest invention in the history and culture of humanity?
Looking back at history, there is an obvious answer to this question. Today, however, the answers can vary greatly depending on who is asking. Many people believe it was electricity, fire, or both.
However, it doesn’t matter as everyone has the same answer: the ability and willingness to communicate.
Human progress is only possible through communication. Communication allows us to learn, grow, to evolve. We share our lives, create art, heal, love, laugh, cry, dream, live, and die.
Communication is why we're here.
No matter how time passes, it doesn't matter if we are talking of the inventions language, Internet, and writing. The answer remains the exact same.
The invention is a means of communicating. It is a way to communicate knowledge, ideas and thoughts.
Communication is vital.
That is why we have to invent.
Which invention is the worst?
The best inventions allow us to live more comfortably. Some inventions can cause great harm.
One such invention is the internal combustion engine. This invention was a key to the industrial revolution, and has made our lives much easier. However, the emission of carbon dioxide is a contributing factor to global warming when fossil fuels are used for energy.
Another invention is laser. This device can effectively destroy objects even miles away. However, this device can also cause blindness and burns as well as death.
The atomic bomb is another example. This weapon can explode and wipe out entire cities.
Inventions can make our lives better. But, they can also cause us harm. These dangerous inventions include nuclear arms, internal combustion engine, lasers, and atomic weapons.
What are the major achievements made by humans?
Humans created technology such as the printing press (printing press), radio, television, computers, and mobile phones (television, computers, etc.). Many of these inventions have been credited with greatly changing our lives. We might also be curious about the impact of these inventions on our lives.
The Internet has revolutionized almost every aspect and aspect of our lives. Access to information, entertainment, news and dating is now possible. The list could go on and on.
There are many inventions that have had an impact on our lives every day. The inventions of automobiles and planes made it easier to travel faster. Modern innovations like electricity, air conditioning and refrigerators, microwaves and digital cameras allow us to live in a modern world that runs smoothly.
Technology is constantly changing our lives. The inventions of smartphones, tablets, laptops smart watches, self -driving car, self -driving automobiles, virtual reality artificial intelligence (AI), augment reality, drones and other devices are making life easier.
Technology is constantly evolving. Every day, new inventions appear. This makes it difficult for us to stay in the know. It's important that you keep abreast of the latest technological advancements.
Here are 10 amazing inventions to help you get there.
- Printing Press
- Radio
- Television
- Computers
- Mobile Phones
- Airplanes
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- Laptop
- Digital Camera
The majority of people nowadays enjoy living in high-tech communities. This is something that was impossible centuries ago. But the printing press was invented and books are now available to everyone. Books were once reserved for monks, priests, and royalty. Now anyone can read.
Books play an important role in our every day lives. You use them every day to study, learn, and be educated. You may not know, but some parts are necessary for reading. To interact with books, the ear, eyes and nose, as well as your mouth, nose, ears, mouth, fingers and toes, are all involved.
Books are useful for learning, but do you know where else they are used? Books can be used for leisure, work, and exercise. You can use them to learn how draw from a book, or to create stories.
So, next time you pick up a book, try to think about all the ways you use it. You never know what other uses you haven't thought of yet.
What is the most remarkable achievement in medicine?
Modern medicine was revolutionized by the discovery of penicillin. But when Alexander Fleming discovered his mold, he had no idea how important it would become. His discovery led to antibiotic development, which saved many lives.
This breakthrough transformed the world. So much so that today we live longer, healthier lives.
But Fleming did more than discover an antibiotic. He also created a way of growing bacteria in large quantities. Scientists could then study them for the very first time.
Fleming's discovery allowed us to see into our bodies and diagnose diseases that we didn't know existed. This discovery allowed doctors to pinpoint the source of tuberculosis.
Penicillin's discovery led to a major shift in public policy regarding health. Previously, people suffering from infections such as pneumonia and meningitis were treated with toxic drugs.
Penicillin was discovered to cure patients without causing death.
Since its invention, penicillin has been used for the treatment of bacterial infections. It is actually one of the greatest medical innovations of all times.
Fleming’s discovery is notable for two reasons. First, he was working solo and alone from the rest of scientific community.
Second, he published the results in Nature journal.
He could publish his findings because he knew exactly what he'd found. He was a pioneer.
He wasn't certain where his research would lead him but he followed his instincts. It paid off. He deserves to be recognized as the father in microbiology.
Alexander Fleming, 65 years old, died in 1955. He spent his entire life working at St Mary's Hospital London.
When he retired, he went home to Scotland. He lived there up to his death.
Why is fire considered to be the greatest achievement for humanity?
Fire is an amazing force in nature and a symbol that embodies power and energy. Fire holds such significance in our culture that we even give names to days of the week based on how much fire there is in them. Tuesday is, for instance, "fire day", because it's when sun sets.
The symbol of fire can be used to denote more than heat. It is used to indicate strength, power passion, action, and life. Why is fire considered the greatest achievement of man?
Fire is the most powerful element of the universe. It represents the beginning and end, source and destination. There's no better way to express its versatility than this.
The beauty of fire is its ability to provide warmth and light. Fire is used by humans to make art, heat, cook, study, and lighten their lives.
Fire can also be used to cause destruction. This includes destroying trees in order to make paper and burning coal to generate electricity. Fire is also used as a weapon to kill animals for meat and even as a tool to help us communicate.
Fire, while it may appear like a negative element, is actually quite beneficial. Instead, fire can be a great resource for us. It is a way to help us survive, protect ourself and provide entertainment.
What is the greatest achievement in human history?
When you make a difference, and change the world for the better, that's a great achievement. You create something completely new that was not there before.
Great achievement doesn't depend on how much money or how many people helped you. It is measured by how much of an impact you had on this world.
The greatest achievements aren't the ones where we find answers. We already know the answer. However, the most important achievements are those that alter the way we see life. That changed our outlook.
Small achievements can often be overlooked because they occur slowly and quietly. They may not seem that important at first. But later on, you'll look back and realize how far-reaching an effect they really had.
There are two kinds of greatness: the one that lasts forever and that that fades away. You can create greatness that lasts forever by creating something people love for generations.
It's because great achievements are often achieved anonymously, as people tend to admire them more when it's not known who did it.
But great achievements fade away quickly. They might be lying if they tell you. This is because your brain has conditioned you to think of greatness only as temporary.
Because greatness is so easy to forget, it can be easy to lose track of its importance. So you could say that great achievements are rare. And only a few people ever achieve them.
Statistics
- H. antecessoris knew from fossils from Spain and England that are dated 1.2 Ma–500ka.[205][206]refers to a single skull cap from Italy, estimated to be about 800,000 years old. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Some 45 million nucleotides of insertions and deletions unique to each lineage were also discovered, making the actual difference between the two genomes ∼4%. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Also proposed as Homo sapiens heidelbergensis or Homo sapiens paleohungaricus.[208]H. rhodesiensis, and the Gawis cranium[edit]H. rhodesiensis, estimated to be 300,000–125,000 years old. (en.wikipedia.org)
- This migration out of Africa is estimated to have begun about 70–50,000 years BP, and modern humans subsequently spread globally, replacing earlier hominins either through competition or hybridization. (en.wikipedia.org)
- dating of two H.nalediteeth, to 253+82−70 ka, for an estimated age of the fossils of 253+82−17 ka. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
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web.archive.org
nature.com
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How To
11 Inventions that Changed the Course of History
The invention of the wheel revolutionized how we move. The printing press revolutionized information dissemination. The invention of the airplane changed our relationship with space.
But some inventions have had even more profound effects on the world. These are 11 of them.
- The Microscope - Scientists were able to see life through a microscope for first time.
- The Telescope - This instrument revolutionized astronomy. Telescopes allowed you to view objects many light years away.
- The Camera Obscura - This invention helped us capture images of the sky.
- The Steam Engine: With the steam engines, we can harness the energy that would otherwise go unutilized.
- The Printing Press -- This invention made books available to everyone. Before the printing press, most people couldn't read.
- The Compass-The compass is a tool that makes traveling much more simple. No longer do sailors rely on luck to find their destination.
- The Lighthouse-Beacons such like lighthouses aid in safely guiding ships into ports.
- The Surgical Knife -- These knives can be used by surgeons for operations that don't involve cutting vital organs.
- The Firearm - Firearms allow citizens to defend themselves.
- The Watch - Clocks make our lives more convenient. It is no longer necessary to keep track of the time while doing different activities.
- Calculator – Computers can calculate at lightning fast speeds. These calculators are used by engineers, scientists, accountants, and other professionals.
Did you miss our previous article...
https://lessonsbeyondthestory.com/history-of-man/momentary-monarchs-10-rulers-who-turned-their-back-on-the-throne
