Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Chastity
(1,068 words)

1. Terminology

Discussion of chastity in the Middle Ages and early modern period in Christian thought were closely linked to changing notions of the contrast between flesh (Body) and spirit. This ultimately led to a semantic equation of carnal, sexual and sinful (Sin). In this context notions of sexuality were associated with fornication (Lat. fornicatio: adultery, whoring, prostitution), desire (Lat. concupiscentia) and lust (Lat. luxuria). The opposite picture la…

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Ulbrich, Claudia, “Chastity”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_022093>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20160907



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