Faces of Violence Revisited. a Typology of Violence in Early Modern Rural Germany

Abstract

The long-term decline of severe physical (criminal) violence since the late Middle Ages is well documented for England and Germany. The question is whether the trend can be understood in terms of Norbert Elias' 'process of civilization'. In a rural German region, only few major changes concerning quality and character of violence were detected during Early Modernity. There was a shift from predominance of conflicts about property towards increasing importance of domestic violence during the 18th century. Violent robbery became rare. Harshness of life, acceptance of violence, and weak self-control may be regarded as the crucial factors throughout the whole epoch. Uncontrolled angry violence was dominant. While the share of 'rational', planned violence remained low, willfully exerted instrumental violence was the second frequent type. The process of civilization not only brought improved individual self-control but also a change of attitudes and values. This process has to be viewed as complex and many-layered.