The contemporary historical narrative of Western Europe is intricately defined by a dichotomy of civilization versus barbarism. Europe is often depicted as a bastion of enlightenment, standing in stark contrast to the perceived savagery of the broader world. Among the myriad customs that, for centuries, delineated Europeans from their global counterparts, the practice of cannibalism emerges as particularly noteworthy.
Frequently characterized as one of the most gruesome and abhorrent acts imaginable, my recent research elucidates that the consumption of human flesh was not only present in the prehistoric eras but persisted through subsequent centuries in various contexts across Western Europe.
The motivations underpinning this practice were multifaceted, encompassing nutritional exigencies, as well as ritualistic and medicinal endeavors documented throughout different epochs. During times of famine, conflict, or societal turmoil, references to cannibalism are notably recurrent in the medieval historical record.
An Enduring Taboo
For centuries, the human body was regarded as a material resource, utilized for a myriad of therapeutic remedies. Following the decline of Roman antiquity, legal frameworks emerged, such as those in the Codex Theodosianus and the Visigothic Code, which explicitly prohibited the violation of graves or the exhumation of remains for medicinal purposes.
In the wake of these regulations, prohibitions proliferated throughout Europe, indicating that the practice itself endured despite efforts to stigmatize it.
Christian Penitentials and Cannibalism
The advent of Christianity introduced Handbooks of Penance, which served to codify societal norms surrounding sin and penitence, thereby reflecting the ecclesiastical apprehension regarding societal moralities.
Prohibition of practices such as the ingestion of blood and other human-derived substances became commonplace, particularly targeting women’s alleged endeavors to harness therapeutic benefits from male bodily fluids. This societal regulation hinted at an underlying recognition of the power attributed to such substances.
The murky waters of purported cannibalistic practices mingled with Christian doctrine, resulting in a profound complexity surrounding the issue that echoed through the ages.
Abel de Lorenzo Rodríguez, Chercheur invité, LaMOP (UMR 8589), Université Paris I-Panthéon Sorbonne & Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculdade de História, Instituto de Investigação de Humanidades, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela., Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Vocabulary List:
- Dichotomy /daɪˈkɒtəmi/ (noun): A division or contrast between two things that are represented as opposed or entirely different.
- Cannibalism /ˈkæn.ɪ.bə.lɪ.zəm/ (noun): The practice of consuming the flesh of one’s own species.
- Exigencies /ˌɛk.sɪˈdʒɛn.siːz/ (noun): Urgencies or demands that require immediate attention.
- Prohibition /ˌproʊhɪˈbɪʃən/ (noun): The action of forbidding something especially by law.
- Ecclesiastical /ɪˌkliː.ziˈæs.tɪ.kəl/ (adjective): Relating to the Christian church or its clergy.
- Therapeutic /ˌθɛrəˈpjuːtɪk/ (adjective): Relating to the healing of disease; having a good effect on health.
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