Orta Çağ’dan Erken Modern Döneme Çocukluğun Tarihsel Gelişimi

Abstract

While a child has existed since the beginning of human history, childhood as a term is a social invention created in 17th century and onwards. Recognition of childhood as a term includes acknowledging child’s presence as a distinct developmental stage and being conscious of their specific characteristics. In the Middle Ages, the children were perceived as deficient adults and they did not have any distinctive games, food, clothes, spoken language and culture. They were intertwined with the adults and experienced the same things in the same places. There were not any characteristics that could differentiate children from the adults. However, since the beginning of 17th century, several changes in the society resulted in the construction of childhood as a term and children started to see the value they deserved. In this study, we will examine the development of a child from medieval times up to early modern times and the reasons for it.