This volume examines conceptions, ideas and habits connected with children in Antiquity and the Middle Ages, focusing on the ""dark sides of childhood"" in the pre-modern world. The authors investigate the long-term attitudes of people, as well as ruptures in habits and customs. The book is divided into three parts. ""Unwanted"" deals with parents who were unable to bring up their baby and handed it over to other people or the cruel whims of destiny. ""Disabled"" addresses what we would label as children's illnesses since disability was a concept largely unknown to ancient people. ""Nearly Los