Essays on Medieval Childhood: Responses to Recent Debates Edited by Joel T. Rosenthal In 1962 the study of the neglected subject of medieval childhood was revolutionized by the French scholar Phillip Aries who presented academics with an extremely provocative idea, that medieval parents, needing a psychological buffer against high infant morality rates, largely regarded their children with indifference. Aries argued that various evolutionary stages led us away from this neglect and brutality to a situation of affection and close bonding in the nuclear family. This idea is now seen as false, for medieval children were indeed regarded with affection by their parents, were allowed to have a childhood (for example in play), and were respected by society which had laws to protect them, and procedures to investigate allegations of neglect or abuse. In this work ten historians present challenging essays responding to recent debates which place the study of medieval childhood on the academic agenda. Two essays cover the historiography of the subject; four case studies consider the situation in different countries and periods and three essays explore the theoretical background in literature, art and cannon law. The papers are framed with an introduction and an index, making the volume an ideal introduction to the subject.