Deviance in premodern society Definitions of deviance What

Deviance in pre-modern society Definitions of deviance What is deviance? How defined in pre-modern (c. 1750) period? Broad definition – religious, sexual, social Transgression of Church’s moral strictures How much concealed from the historian’s view?

Dante’s hierarchy of deviance (from The Divine Comedy early C 14 th) )

Identification of deviant behaviour common to all societies • Suspect and threatening • Appearance, beliefs and/or lifestyle • Marginalisation, ostracisation, persecution of individuals or groups • Common stereotypes: sexual depravity, criminality, anti-social behaviour • Metaphors of sin, pollution, disease • Cf ‘terrorists’ (Dillinger, 2004)

Accusations vs Deviant Groups (from Malcolm Lambert, Medieval Heresy (1992), p. 166)

Extreme: blood libel/ritual murder accusation vs Jews

Role of the courts/legislation auto da fe = show trial Official treatment of deviants • Fluctuations • Ecclesiastical e. g. Spanish Inquisition • Secular courts often harsher (will execute) • Could be surprisingly lenient • Social relations > heightened tension in post 1500 period

Treatment of the ‘Other’ • Diverse societies: minorities integrated • Expulsions > mobile communities • Refugees/diaspora especially by early modern period (post 1500) e. g. moriscos, Huguenots • Scapegoating

Socially marginal and mobile Gypsies by Callot c. 1621 C 16 th and C 17 th • Fear of vagrants on increase • Criminal gangs imagined • Gypsy/Roma people suspect • Social stability and hierarchy central

Social stigmatisation Executioner (C 16 th) Dishonourable trades • Played important socioeconomic role • Ostracised from polite society • Excluded from citizenship • Physically and socially marginalised • Developed own subculture/networks • Definition of ‘margins’? (Milner)

Medieval bath house: often frequented by prostitutes

Treatment of diseased Fear of contamination: • Leprosy • Plague • Syphilis • Mental illness • Lunacy • Also strong metaphorical use re deviant groups

The court dwarf: Spain and Italy

Monstrous births: source of fascination & horror ‘Monk calf’ (C 16 th Germany) ‘Barking monster’ (C 18 th England)

SIN: a sinful and virtuous woman

Questions • In what way group defined as deviant? • What form did marginalisation take? • Was persecution systematic or sporadic, official or popular? • Are there geographical & chronological distinctions to be made? • What do local studies add? • What does it tell us about wider society?