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Historically, the ethicality of abortion (induced abortion) was rarely discussed. However, in the later half of the 20th century, as developed nations have begun to legalize abortion, this controversial subject has sparked heated debate, an awareness of the issue in the public domain, and in some cases, even violence.
Ancient History (Prior to 476AD)
Anthropologist George Devereux has argued that abortion has been practiced beginning in ancient times. Before the Middle Ages, women induced abortion with sharpened sticks, poisonous herbs, abdominal pressure, special exercises, and other techniques. Many ancient texts contain specific recipes for abortion or even descriptions of specialized medical instruments designed to remove a fetus from the womb. Although attitudes toward abortion are most likely dependent on cultural context, many ancient civilizations were known to tolerate, or even sanction, abortions performed through the third trimester. Ancient Greek culture, for example, considered abortion to be a necessary practice for the maintenance of a stable population. Early Christians, although not particularly comfortable with abortion, did not consider it a sin before "ensoulment" -- the moment in which a fetus became a person -- usually 40 to 90 days after conception.
Middle Ages (477-1517)
- 1140 - The monk John Gratian completed the Concordia discordantium canonum (Harmony of Contradictory Laws) which became the first authoritative collection of canon law accepted by the church. In accordance with ancient scholars, it concluded early abortion was not homicide.
- c. 1200 - Pope Innocent III wrote that when "quickening" occurred, abortion was homicide. Before that, abortion was considered a less serious sin.
- 1307–1803 - According to English common law, abortion prior to fetus movement or "quickening" was not punished.
Modern History (1518-Present)
- 1591 - Pope Gregory XIV changed church policy so that prior to 116 days, (~17 weeks) church penalties would not be any stricter than local penalties, which varied from country to country.
- 1869 - Pope Pius IX banned abortion under any circumstance and required excommunication from the church for abortions at any stage of pregnancy.
- 1935 - Iceland became the first Western country to legalize therapeutic abortion under limited circumstances.
- 1936 - Joseph Stalin reversed Lenin's legalization of abortion in the Soviet Union to increase population growth.
- 1938 - In Britain, Dr. Alec Bourne aborted the pregnancy of a young girl who had been raped by soldiers. Bourne was acquitted after turning himself in and the ambiguous legal precedent of using abortion to avoid mental or physical damage was picked up by the Commonwealth of Nations.
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