NCJ Number
169788
Editor(s)
E A Johnson,
E H Monkkonen
Date Published
1996
Length
290 pages
Annotation
These 10 essays examine violent crime in Western Europe over many centuries and conclude that both rural and urban communities in these countries experienced far more violence during the late Middle Ages than any cities experience today.
Abstract
The analyses focus on Great Britain, Scandinavia, Germany, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. The analyses note that the significant change has occurred partly because violence was often tolerated or even accepted as a form of dispute settlement in village-dominated premodern society. Interpersonal violence declined in the 17th and 18th centuries, as dispute resolution was taken over by courts and other government institutions and the church became increasingly disapproving of violence. The authors note that women were far less prone to violence than were men during this period and that rural areas were more often associated with violence than were urban areas. The papers also challenge common opinions and historical and sociological theories, including the position that organized crime is new. They also address the continuing debate regarding the meaning and usefulness of crime statistics. Tables, figures, reference notes, index, and approximately 300 references