Classical Studies 3310F/G Lecture 14: Classical Studies Lecture Notes February 10 2017
14 Feb 2017
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Reason for marrying: for the purposes of reproduction. Pre-transition population": ancient greece is referred to as this, fertility falls off for women in the mid-thirties. Deep ignorance of reproductive processes: any contraceptive methods they used were not very effective. Modern demographic transition : has to do with life expectancy. Soranus" recommendations (1st century ce: sobriety. The mother should be sober when the couple has sex. The fetus might be misshapen when born: a rubdown. For the wife to relax her: orgasm. Woman needs to have one in order to conceive. Sex of the child is the mother"s responsibility. Did not work as the ancients had the woman"s cycle wrong: non-procreative sex by means of anal and oral. Myrrh, wild carrot seeds, pennyroyal, copper ore, coriander seeds. Did a father have any rights over his unborn child: not known. No legal or religious prohibition of abortion. No evidence that a father could force his wife to abort.
