The FWF ESPRIT Project "Fertility Control in Byzantium: Women's Reproductive Agency in the Eastern Roman Empire (330–1204 CE)" (ESP8696124) foregrounds fertility control and reproductive choices as key gateways to expanding our understanding of various aspects of women’s lives and agency in Byzantium.
The project addresses fundamental questions surrounding fertility control, beginning with linguistic, lexical, and discursive issues (how were fertility control practices conceptualised and discussed in the Eastern Roman Empire?), examining medical aspects (who practiced fertility control, and how?), and exploring individual and societal perceptions (what ethical, moral, and legal frameworks influenced attitudes toward fertility control in Byzantine society?). Another key question that informs this project is whether it is possible to discern women’s perceptions and experiences through the lens of male-authored texts.
The approach involves a meticulous examination of primary sources written in Greek from 330 to 1204 CE, including medical treatises, legal texts, liturgical writings, hagiography, and astronomical texts. Additionally, material culture will be considered, particularly so-called "uterine amulets", enigmatic objects that have been associated with women’s attempts to control their reproductive functions. Since research on women’s reproductive health in Byzantium has been limited—especially regarding their intentions to avoid or terminate pregnancy—this project represent a significant step toward a deeper understanding of fertility control practices and women’s agency in Byzantium. Through this focus, it promises to provide new insights into women’s history, the history of medicine, and social history.