Child Rearing Dbq

Separate societies and groups of people through out the 1500s-1700s had different ideas on how to raise children, some choose the strict harsh ways of child rearing, while other choose a nurturing supportive technique. A few even choose an in between practice, of not excessive coddling or strict discipline. What the parent or society thought was the correct practice could be determined on the time period they were living in, social standing, mortality rates and/or religious practices. In the earlier 16th Century, the Renaissance was coming to an end. During this transition period, many parents believed treating their children harshly with strict discipline and beatings was the way to go. The Renaissance would have an effect due to perception of children was that they were generally thought of as miniatures of their parents, and were expected to dress, talk, and act as adults. The only difference between adults and children was that children had no rights. Children were especially susceptible to disease and death. Mortality rates were also a factor, Several children in a prosperous merchant or noble family might die of illness in childhood. However, in a peasant family, those children who survived childhood were extremely lucky. Benvenuto Cellini (document 4) was a prime example of harsh, disconnected parent of this time period. Benvenuto was shocked this his son of a young age of two could be crying and screaming for him not to leave, so Benvenuto left his child there, crying. This document was taken out of an autobiography, this document would be a reliable one, due to his blatant honestly. King Henry IV, (document 8) wrote in a letter to Madame de Montglat, that he wanted his son to be whipped every time he misbehaved. King Henry IV believed this was best for his child to make him strong, just as he was whipped as a child. The whipping and strict discipline was supposed to create a strong leader, one ready for warfare, which would be needed for a young prince