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Birth Control Practices in the Ancient World Annotated Bib
Bujalkova, M. "Birth Control in Antiquity." Bratisl Lek Listy. (108:3), 2007. 163-66. The research conducted by ancient medical scholars led to some of the most extensive of early medical inquiries. Bujalkova explores what he feels is a fairly serious problem in examining ancient texts and the forms of birth control and contraception that they employed. This problem is that many of the writers of ancient times did not clearly identify the difference between contraceptives and abortive agents. Part of the reason for this, the author asserts, is the ancient perception that humans were not people until birth and thus there was no difference between preventing a pregnancy and termination of one already progressing.
Bujalkova's article is useful as it mainly discusses the psychological, philosophical, and sociological perspectives of the ancients. It is necessary to understand as much about the culture of the ancients as possible in order to understand the methods they used and to what degree these methods had to be silenced because of morality or lack thereof regarding contraception. The legal ramifications of contraception have been an issue for people studying this matter and be able to have quantitative data regarding ancient birth control can only be helpful in trying to disseminate the information that is currently available.
Culbertson, Alaina, "Abortion and Contraception in the Ancient World." Springfield: Drury
University, 2011. Culbertson's article discusses abortion and contraception and how these were used in the time period which is discussed in the Christian Bible. Modern Christians in positions of biblical authority claim that contraception is an immoral thing and that birth and conceptions are pre-ordained by God. Alaina Culbertson traces the various birth control methods available to women, particularly focusing on natural methods such as plants and also physical measures which could be undertaken to prevent conception. In addition, she traces the connection...
With the burgeoning identification of immorality with birth control, there came also a change in the ways women went about such procedures. Understanding this is necessary to make connections with how birth control methods continued to change through the subsequent historical periods.
Davidson, Emily R.W. "Historical Contraception: Birth Control before 'The Pill.'" Hektoen
International Journal. (4:3), October 11, 2012. The earliest recorded document regarding birth control and contraception, according to Davidson's research, is the Kahun Gynecological Papyrus. This is an Egyptian scroll which has been dated to be approximately 4,000 years old. She categorizes ancient birth control methodologies into three distinct forms: technique-based birth control, herbo-pharmacology, and human-made devices. The author clearly explains the difference between the three types of contraception and explores the history behind each form as well as its prevalence.
In the article, Davidson makes some very interesting points such as the fact that cultures which were divided by thousands of miles and whom had never interacted were able to come up with similar methodologies for contraception. For example, a Persian physician and a Chinese religious leader both described what would come to be known as the withdrawal method despite the fact that the two cultures had not been known to one another at this time. Such information indicates the universality of human interaction and the desire of women to control their bodies and their destinies.
Evans, Megan L. "A Desire to Control: Contraception throughout the Ages." Washington D.C.:
George Washington University School of Medicine, 2009. In this article, author Megan Evans discusses various contraceptive methods that have been used throughout history. Some specific methods with are considered modern inventions are actually ancient creations, such as condoms in particular which are dated back to around 3000 BCE. Further inventions such as methods requiring the implementation of artificial barriers and intrauterine devices are also historical creations which date back further than first supposed. Even the birth control pill has historic precedents in the flower silphium which many ancient women used as an oral contraceptive. The flower was used so prolifically that it was declared instinct by the year 300 AD. Author Megan Evans provides a complete chronology of these inventions as well as progressions that led to their modern usage.
Selphium is one of the most important materials in…
The basic thesis of Riddle's book is that the Ancient world did use contraceptives which were relatively safe and also quite efficient. It is believed that ancient forms of medicine were archaic, dangerous, and the work of uneducated quacks. Obviously, those who are more well-informed know those suppositions to be false. Although the Ancients may not have understood chemical medicine as we know it today, their methods were still useful and effective particularly in the field of gynecology where patients were in desperate need of aid.
Soranus of Ephesus. Soranus' Gynaecology. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 1991. This text is a reprint of an ancient textbook which was the first authoritative text about the female human body and how it differentiated from the male. Soranus explains in clear detail, as translated into modern English, exactly how gynecological issues including birth control were dealt with in Ancient Greece. The author also carefully explains the differences between abortion and contraception and how the two terms have been complicated throughout history. The viewpoint of Soranus is that it far better to prevent conception than to abort a fetus after pregnancy and gives several natural methods of birth control including pomegranate peel and dried figs.
People erroneously think of birth control as a modern invention. Soranus' book not only explains birth control methods which were concurrent at the time of his writings, but also explains methods which came before. This text is useful in that it is a complete understanding of birth control methodology without any perceptible moral or ethical bias regarding the issue.
Birth control which is also known as fertility control and contraception, describes the devices or methods that are used to prevent an egg from getting fertilized by the sperm and thus preventing pregnancy[footnoteRef:2]. Provision of birth control and planning a pregnancy is referred to as family planning. Safe sex implies the use of condoms; both male and female, does not only prevent unwanted pregnancies, but also prevent the spread of
Birth Control and Christianity Debate: Introduction Birth control or family planning is one of the most controversial issues, widely and passionately discussed by the Church and one for which a clear answer or solution has remained elusive. With rising population rate, many experts maintain that birth control is not only important, it is critical for the survival of the planet. Birth control methods both artificial and natural have been widely promoted
Another notable development and contribution of ancient from Greek is the Olympics. The event was begun in Greek as an entertainment session but later evolved into an international event. Additional invention of Greek is the architecture. The Greek were immensely talented in art and, therefore, the exemplary architectural inventions and developments in the modern world today. They all can trace the history of the building system in this ancient
Ancient Greece Greek History The Impact of Alexander and the Development of Democracy The development of democracy in Greece came about due to many factors, each playing a significant role in a slow process. It can be traced back to the election of Solon and his impact on the polis of Athens. He created a four-tier class system, awarding political privileges to those in each class (Ober, 1998). While more say was given
Some have speculated that the work may have been commissioned by one of those families, and that the work was stored in a private residence, as opposed to being on display (the Birth, No date). In its historical context, Birth of Venus is important because it gives us a glimpse into the Italian psychology at the time. The painting shows that even as the church tried to exert total influence
Q2. Plato believed that, just as skilled craftsman should confine themselves to making shoes and warriors should confine themselves to fighting, only 'the best' should rule. Individuals with great aptitudes to be philosophers should be selected and taught to lead the people, and leadership by the majority was dangerous. The Platonic 'Guardians' would be taken away from their family at birth and given special training by other philosophers, so they