Description
MARITAL BREAKDOWN IN ENLIGHTENMENT-ERA ANDALUSIA
Book Summary
This historical essay analyzes marital breakdown in the former Archdiocese of Seville during the second half of the 18th century, covering the current dioceses of Huelva, Seville, and Jerez de la Frontera. Through the study of real cases brought before the archiepiscopal tribunal, the work offers a detailed view of the marital conflicts of the era, such as mistreatment, infidelity, and domestic mismanagement. The reader will discover how, despite the advancement of Enlightenment ideas, marital problems inherited from previous centuries persisted, as did the responses of the Justice system and Canon law at the time.
What is it about?
The work focuses on the analysis of marital breakdown in Enlightenment-era Andalusia, specifically within the territory of the former Archdiocese of Seville. Based on documentation from the ecclesiastical tribunal, the author reconstructs the causes and circumstances that led men and women to request the separation or annulment of their marriages. The alleged motives, such as mistreatment, infidelity, or mismanagement of the home, are examined and contextualized within the norms of public and private behavior of the era. The book also addresses the legal and canonical responses offered by the Church, showing the tension between the new Enlightenment sensibilities and secular traditions.
Main Topics
- Social and cultural history of 18th-century Andalusia.
- Marital breakdown and spousal conflicts in the Ancien Régime.
- The application of Canon law in ecclesiastical courts.
- Private life and gender relations in the Age of Enlightenment.
- The persistence of traditional marital problems in the face of new Enlightenment ideas.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at historians, students of modern and social history, and readers interested in the history of the family, gender, and daily life in 18th-century Spain. It will also be of interest to those studying Canon law and its historical application, as well as anyone curious about the intimate and conflictive realities of couples in Enlightenment-era Andalusia.
What this book contributes
- A detailed and documented analysis of marital breakdown in a specific historical context.
- A view of private life and spousal conflicts beyond official discourse.
- An understanding of the interaction between ecclesiastical norms and the social realities of the 18th century.
- An approach to gender history and power relations in marriage.
Technical Data
- Author: Macias Alonso Manuel
- Publisher: University of Huelva
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Regional and national history, Social and cultural history
- Collection: Arias Montano
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: December 2020
- Number of pages: 318
- Weight: 694 g
Editorial Review
This is a rigorous and well-documented work that provides a fresh perspective on the social history of Enlightenment-era Andalusia. Its focus on marital conflicts and their judicial treatment offers a window into the tensions between tradition and modernity in the private sphere. It is especially valuable for specialists and enthusiasts of social and cultural history, as well as for those seeking to understand the dynamics of power and gender in the Ancien Régime.