Structural and legalized child abuse in Europe, from ancient times until now
Structural and legalized child abuse in Europe, from ancient times until now

Summary/Abstract: Is there a structural and, maybe even, a lawful element in child abuse in Europe? Has what is now assumed as objectionable and prosecutable been always considered as deviant behavior? The author of this article searched back into the past for the information of adults’ attitude towards children in former societies. As it turned out, the origin of child abuse had been rooted in laws and regulations of Assyrian and Babylonian Empire thousands of years ago. Later, through Egyptian and Greek civilizations, it settled in Roman legislation and culture. In its turn, Roman society was the most important supplier of the legislation for many European countries. The attitude of adults towards children in those times fundamentally and profoundly influenced the European legislation. We are still confronted with it every day.

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