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Centuries Of Childhood Analysis

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Syria’s 5 year civil war has had an effect on childhood, this is rather similar in Pakistan as this country has fought 3 wars with its neighbouring country, India, which has created a consequential negative effect on a child’s development. This essay argues that Syria and Pakistan has shaped the idea of childhood in essence of their culture. Both countries’ common characteristics include the high percentage of peril in Syria and Pakistan. This may have been partially caused by the influence of traditional ideas triggering conflict for power or dominance of a certain area’s or religious beliefs which has had a significant impact the concept of what a child should do and how it should act. First the essay will consider the Philippe Ariès who …show more content…
This book gave an insight to Ariès audacious ideas which was criticised by some of the public. “In medieval society the idea of childhood did not exist” Aries assumes “The absence of definition extended to every sort of social activity: games, crafts, arms … Until the end of the Middle Ages, the child was, almost as soon as he was weaned, regarded as a small adult, who mingled, competed, worked, and played with mature adults.” This reveals that he believes this concept is a recent social construction as it did not exist during the middle ages as children were perceived as miniature adults. There is some truth to his thesis, however, Ariès has generalised children’s activities throughout the middle ages which is false to some extent as people in different social classes had different roles for example in the highest social class (royalty) would have had privileged children who did not have to work labour but did attend school which was highly influenced by the dominant religion, Christianity. This reveals that religion had a significance in children’s lives leading to the conclusion that going to church was part of their social activity. British historian, Nicholas Orme’s states “This toy knight comes from a rich harvest of archaeological finds, made in the mud banks of the River Thames in London during the last 30 years … The finds also include toys that girls might have liked: little cups, plates, and jugs, some sturdy enough to heat up water by a fireside.” Hence Ariès accusation is false because evidence of toys were found and manufactured in about 1300 as said by Orme’s. Although not all medieval children were able to afford this luxury so it could be argued, children were mostly sent to work and some evidence of this is derived from medieval art. Childhood did exist in the middle ages as Nicholas Orme’s pointed out what their social activities may have

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