History of abortion
History of Abortion
The History of Abortion (pronunciation: /əˈbɔːrʃən/) refers to the practice and understanding of abortion throughout human history. The term abortion is derived from the Latin word 'abortio', which means 'to miscarry'.
Ancient Times
In ancient times, abortion was practiced and accepted in many societies. The Ancient Egyptians used herbs to induce abortions, while the Ancient Greeks and Romans had various methods and attitudes towards the practice. The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote about the concept of 'delayed ensoulment', suggesting that a fetus does not gain a soul until later in pregnancy, a belief that influenced attitudes towards abortion.
Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, attitudes towards abortion varied. Some societies, influenced by the Christian Church, viewed abortion as a sin, while others, such as Islamic societies, allowed it under certain circumstances. The Canon Law of the Christian Church prohibited abortion, a stance that has had a lasting impact on attitudes towards the practice in many societies.
Modern Times
In the 19th and 20th centuries, laws regarding abortion became more restrictive in many countries, including the United States and United Kingdom. However, the late 20th century saw a shift towards liberalization of abortion laws, with many countries legalizing the practice under certain circumstances. This period also saw the development of safer and more effective abortion methods, such as the use of mifepristone (also known as RU-486).
Related Terms
- Abortion law: The legal framework surrounding the practice of abortion.
- Pro-choice: The belief that women should have the right to choose whether to have an abortion.
- Pro-life: The belief that abortion is morally wrong and should be illegal.
- Fetus: The stage of prenatal development from the ninth week of pregnancy until birth.
- Miscarriage: The spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on History of abortion
- Wikipedia's article - History of abortion
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski