Marriage, sex and death

By the end of the fifth century, the Western Roman Empire had structurally collapsed. Western Europe is depicted as having fallen into the 'Dark Ages' as the visible power of the Roman Empire declined. The Christian Church emerged to fill that vacuum. This rise of the Church alongside the Germanic kingdoms led to dramatic changes in law, politics, power, and culture. Against this backdrop, the family became a vitally important focus for cultural struggles concerning morality, law, and tradition. This book centres on the family as a fundamental social unit, examining cultural changes surrounding marriage, parenthood, abortion, divorce, and sex during this contentious period. Through the family, it demonstrates the intersections between Roman legal culture, Christian thought, and political power in shaping not just the family of the 'Dark Ages' but also the traditional family in the contemporary West.