Irina Metzler Boeken

Focusing on the social history of disability during the Middle Ages, this book examines cultural discourses that shaped perceptions and experiences of disability before modern times. It utilizes a rich array of sources to illustrate how factors such as law, labor, age, and charitable practices influenced the lives of individuals with disabilities in medieval society. This exploration reveals the complexities and significance of disability within the historical context, offering a deeper understanding of its impact on social structures.

The book offers a comprehensive exploration of physical impairment and disability in medieval Europe, highlighting its historical significance. Irene Metzler provides a theoretical framework for understanding disability during this period, delving into key areas such as societal attitudes, legal implications, and the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities. This scholarly work is essential for historians and researchers interested in the complexities of disability in a pivotal era.

Combines modern and medieval approaches to intellectual disability, and engages with a very wide range of sources in order to fill a major gap in this relatively new field, and demonstrate that disability, illness and healthcare are embedded in daily life. -- .