ABSTRACT

For the authorities in medieval Europe, dissent struck at the roots of an ordered, settled world. It was to be crushed - initially by reason and argument, eventually by torture. Jeffrey Richards examines the wretched lives of heretics, witches, Jews, lepers and homosexuals and uncovers a common motive for their persecution: sexual aberrance.

chapter 1|21 pages

The Medieval Context

chapter 2|20 pages

Sex in the Middle Ages

chapter 3|32 pages

Heretics

chapter 4|14 pages

Witches

chapter 5|28 pages

Jews

chapter 6|16 pages

Prostitutes

chapter 7|18 pages

Homosexuals

chapter 8|14 pages

Lepers