Introduction

This book explores Christianity and the regulation of sexual attitudes and activities from roughly 1500 to 1750 around the world. It focuses on the ways in which people used Christian ideas and institutions to regulate and shape (or attempt to regulate and shape) sexual norms and conduct, and on the impact of their efforts. Restrictions on sexual relations were developed to separate or keep separate ethnic groups within Christianity. English forces conquered much of Ireland in the twelfth century, transforming it into what many see as England’s first colony and establishing patterns they would later use throughout the huge British Empire. In addition to questions arising from general theories about sexuality, gender, colonialism, and race, this book also engages theories that have been developed specifically about the early modern period. Europe was also establishing political and economic hegemony over much of the world at this time, so that many scholars consider this line of encounter to be the most significant.