Explore the raunchiness of sex in medieval times, including the impact of celibacy on monks and the reaction of their wives. Learn about the perception of sex and beauty, hygiene and sex work, and the significance of pregnancy, sexual diseases, and naughty nuns in medieval society.
Medieval attitudes towards sex were contradictory, with the church seeing it as sinful but necessary for procreation, and the concept of balance playing a role in understanding its impact on health.
Dating and courtship in the Middle Ages involved considerations of love, social status, and physical proximity, with arranged marriages common among the upper classes and social events like church gatherings facilitating meeting potential partners.
Deep dives
Sexual beliefs and practices in the Middle Ages
In this podcast episode, Catherine Harvey discusses the sexual beliefs and practices in the Middle Ages. She highlights the contradictory attitudes towards sex in the church, where it was seen as both sinful and necessary for procreation. Medical views on the body shaped their understanding of sex, with the concept of balance playing a role. They believed that excess or lack of sex could be detrimental to one's health. The podcast also explores the topics of contraception, sexual diseases, and the role of women in medieval society.
Dating and courtship in the Middle Ages
The podcast delves into the world of dating and courtship in the Middle Ages. While arranged marriages were common among the upper classes, ordinary people had more leeway in choosing their partners. Love and social status were important considerations. Courtship was limited by physical proximity, and social events such as church gatherings played a role in meeting potential partners. The podcast also touches on the challenges faced by women who wanted to remain single and societal expectations surrounding marriage and reproduction.
Sex work in the Middle Ages
The podcast explores the world of sex work in the Middle Ages, highlighting the contradictory attitudes towards it. While the church condemned sexual sin, many towns set up civic brothels and red light districts to regulate the industry. Sex work was deeply intertwined with the lives of clergy members, and there were concerns about the influence of public bathing and the clergy's behaviors. The podcast discusses various cases of sex work, including court records of women involved in prostitution.
Naughty nuns and sexual misbehavior
The podcast touches on the topic of naughty nuns and sexual misbehavior in convents. While the number of cases of nuns involved in sexual activities is relatively low compared to monks, there are stories and records that reveal instances of pregnancy, elopement, and illicit affairs within convents. The podcast highlights that such tales often reflect male fantasies and should be viewed through that lens.
What happened when medieval monks were told by the church that they had to be celibate? And how did their wives react?
On today's episode, we're joined by Katherine Harvey, historian and author of The Fires of Lust: Sex in the Middle Ages, to take us back to the middle ages and answer the question: what was sex like in medieval times?
This episode was edited by Tom Delargy. The producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
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