Cultures of Death and Dying in Medieval and Early Modern Europe

TLDR: In this article, the authors explored the European cultures of dying: customary beliefs, social practices and values related to death and dying that were shared by the people of medieval and early modern Europe.

Abstract: This volume investigates certain aspects of medieval and early modern mentalities related to death in Europe, exploring some of the expressions of the European cultures of dying: customary beliefs, social practices and values related to death and dying that were shared by the people of medieval and early modern Europe. To a large extent, the Church and religion left its hallmark on this culture, defining it and giving it substance. Medieval canon law also regulated interment and who had the right to be buried in hallowed ground.2 However, we have chosen to talk about cultures in the plural to emphasize that there were parallel cultures and customs aside from the prevalent Catholic one in the Middle Ages. There was divergence and variation depending on status, social group, ethnicity, age, religion and so on, in addition to inevitable regional variations. After the Reformation, the new Evangelical churches started to form their own sets of beliefs and customs on the basis of the common Christian background while revising or abandoning some central tenets. This created more parallel cultures. The volume deals with issues related to the Christian ideal of good death (Lat. mors beata).3 This notion had corollaries in terms of strategies of salvation and coping with death emotionally. The Church also influenced the material preparations