Course:History 344 Nasty Families/Calamities/Domestic Violence

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Domestic Tensions

Violence was accepted and viewed as a desirable necessity in ancient European communities, as it was seen as defending one's personal honor.[1] Marriage in seventeenth-century England was similar to marriage in France, which acknowledged a presence of violence.[2] As redefined following the Council of Trent, the order of marriage was a fundamental institution of society.[3] Because it was seen as fundamental, it was natural to feel pressure in the 17th century to marry, resulting in stresses and conflicts within households. Many of these stresses led some to resort to drinking, which induced violence. [4] Surprisingly, violence was not seen only from men, but from women as well; female violence was common, particularly in lower-class families. As time progressed throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, female violence was increasingly stigmatized, and it became expected for women to become unconditionally obedient to their husbands, redefining the role of a wife.[5]


  1. Body-Gendrot, Sophie (Editor); Spierenburg, Pieter (Editor). Violence in Europe : Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. New York, NY, USA: Springer, 2008.
  2. Ibid., 9.
  3. Ibid., 9.
  4. Martin, A. Lynn. Alcohol, Violence, and Disorder in Traditional Europe. Kirksville, MO: Truman State University Press, 2009: 269.
  5. Body-Gendrot, 9.