1. Deviance in pre-modern society
Definitions of deviance
What is deviance?
How defined in pre-modern (c.1750) period?
Broad definition – religious, sexual, social
Transgression of Church’s moral strictures
How much concealed from the historian’s view?

2. Dante’s hierarchy of deviance (from The Divine Comedy early C14th) )

3. Identification of deviant behaviour common to all societies
Suspect and threatening
Appearance, beliefs and/or lifestyle
Marginalisation, ostracisation, persecution of individuals or groups
Common stereotypes: sexual depravity, criminality, anti-social behaviour
Metaphors of sin, pollution, disease
Cf ‘terrorists’ (Dillinger, 2004)

4. Accusations vs Deviant Groups (from Malcolm Lambert, Medieval Heresy (1992), p. 166)

5. Extreme: blood libel/ritual murder accusation vs Jews

6. Role of the courts/legislation
auto da fe = show trial
Official treatment of deviants
Fluctuations
Ecclesiastical e.g. Spanish Inquisition
Secular courts often harsher (will execute)
Could be surprisingly lenient
Social relations > heightened tension in post 1500 period

7. Treatment of the ‘Other’
Diverse societies: minorities integrated
Expulsions > mobile communities
Refugees/diaspora especially by early modern period (post 1500) e.g. moriscos, Huguenots
Scapegoating

8. Socially marginal and mobile
Gypsies by Callot c. 1621
C16th and C17th
Fear of vagrants on increase
Criminal gangs imagined
Gypsy/Roma people suspect
Social stability and hierarchy central

9. Social stigmatisation
Executioner (C16th)
Dishonourable trades
Played important socio-economic role
Ostracised from polite society
Excluded from citizenship
Physically and socially marginalised
Developed own subculture/networks
Definition of ‘margins’? (Milner)

10. Medieval bath house: often frequented by prostitutes

11. Treatment of diseased Fear of contamination: Leprosy Plague Syphilis
Mental illness
Lunacy
Also strong metaphorical use re deviant groups

12. The court dwarf: Spain and Italy

13. Monstrous births: source of fascination & horror
‘Monk calf’
(C16th Germany)
‘Barking monster’
(C18th England)

14. SIN: a sinful and virtuous woman

15. Questions In what way group defined as deviant?
What form did marginalisation take?
Was persecution systematic or sporadic, official or popular?
Are there geographical & chronological distinctions to be made?
What do local studies add?
What does it tell us about wider society?