Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Homosexuality
(2,564 words)

1. Concept

Recent studies in the history of male and female homosexuality contend that the now-usual identification of a certain form of erotic desire with a specific subjectivity cannot be said to be universally valid throughout history. ‘Homosexuality’ is thus a problematic concept, for it presupposes that modern notions of an identity-bound sexuality existed in premodern societies. In fact, premodern European cultures …

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Puff, Helmut and Jarzebowski, Claudia, “Homosexuality”, 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 24 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_021096>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180915



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