Dbq Essay-European History-Assumptions on Children

During early modern Europe, children were viewed in many different ways which changed how parents chose to raise their children. During the 1500’s, the mortality rates for children were high, therefore children were viewed as if they were adults and very precious if they survived, many people believed that they needed to treat children harshly to make them strong. In the 1600’s, children were raised tenderly as they were rational beings that could use reason. Children were viewed in many ways during early modern Europe to be rational, precious, and in need of guidance where these views determined the parents’ choice in child rearing to behaving harshly to kind guidance. Society sought for guidance for their children in a very caring†¦show more content†¦He is biased though because he has a son himself and knows of the emotional attachment and bond bearing a child creates, he speaks with only gratitude and expresses his love of his child (Doc 1). Theoretically speaking though, Jean Benedicti â€Å"obligates the child to obey under pain of mortal sin.† Being a preacher, he expects a child to honor God and obey his wisdom (Doc 7). This follows the same circumstances stated in document 10. The English Catholic Gentleman expects highly of his daughter to have reliance on God and help her understand to make her amends to confess her sins to God. John Locke, a philosopher who wrote â€Å"Two Treasies on Government† writes that a person must reason with children to their capacity of understanding. As a member of the Enlightenment, Locke believes people are rational and tabula rasa (blank slates) where they can be taught what to do. Changing ideas of the1600’s into the enlightenment allowed for parents to treat children kindly and rationally (Doc 11). Although some parents taught their children in a kind manner beneficial for the child, some punished their children by putting a negative impact on their well-being. As depicted in document 3, it states that if a man truly cares about his child, he will whip him occasionally to make a man out of him. Generally, Russian households of the 17th century were harsh conditions to live under, therefore the nobility expected harsh discipline as a means to better their children. Michel de