Fertility Control in Byzantium

This project investigates how women in the Byzantine Empire particularly in the years between the foundation of Constantinople (330 CE) and the Fourth Crusade (1204 CE) managed their fertility and made decisions about their reproductive lives. While the roles of Byzantine women in areas like religion (as saints), economy (as patrons), and motherhood have been subject of study, the ways they exercised control over their own bodies through practices such as contraception and abortion have been largely overlooked. This research fills that gap, shedding light on an important but underexplored aspect of Byzantine society. By examining fertility control, the project highlights womens agency in a society often thought to be governed by strict religious and social norms. It also provides new perspectives on broader themes like health, morality, and law in the ancient and medieval worlds. The project draws on a wide range of historical sources, including medical treatises, legal codes, religious texts, biographies of saints (all written in Greek) and even physical objects like so-called uterine amulets. Together, these sources can provide a rich picture of how contraception and pregnancy termination were understood, practiced, and regulated in Byzantine culture. In addition to analysing these sources, the project will create a linguistic database of terms related to fertility control. This database will serve as a valuable tool for future researchers, facilitating studies on how Byzantines conceptualized and discussed reproductive health. The findings will be shared widely, including through academic articles, talks at international conferences, and a dedicated conference on fertility control in Byzantium and beyond that will culminate in an edited volume. By addressing an overlooked topic one that resonates strongly with contemporary debates on reproductive rights and health this project will deepen our understanding of womens history and contribute to ongoing discussions about gender, health, and personal agency in the ancient and medieval worlds.