John Boswell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Boswell
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| Born |
John Eastburn Boswell
March 20, 1947 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Died | December 24, 1994 (aged 47) New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
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| Other names | Jeb Boswell |
| Education | |
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Notable work
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| Partner(s) | Jerone Hart (1970–1994) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | Yale University |
| Thesis | Muslim Communities Under the Crown of Aragon in the Fourteenth Century (1975) |
| Academic advisors |
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| Doctoral students | Robin Stacey |
| Influenced | Ralph Hexter |
John Eastburn Boswell (born March 20, 1947 – died December 24, 1994) was an American historian and a professor at Yale University. He studied how different religions, especially Christianity, viewed people who were considered "different" or "outsiders" throughout history.
His first book, The Royal Treasure, came out in 1977. In 1994, his fourth book, Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe, was published. He passed away that same year due to health problems.
Contents
About John Boswell
Early Life and Education
John Boswell was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 20, 1947. His parents were Colonel Henry Boswell Jr. and Catharine Eastburn Boswell.
He attended the College of William & Mary for his first degree. Later, he earned his PhD from Harvard University. After finishing his studies, he became a teacher at Yale University.
His Career as a Historian
John Boswell was a historian who studied old languages and texts. He could speak or read many languages, including German, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, Arabic, and Hebrew.
He earned his doctorate degree in 1975. Then, he joined the history department at Yale University. He became a full professor in 1982. By 1990, he was named the A. Whitney Griswold Professor of History.
Important Books by John Boswell
John Boswell wrote several important books during his career. Each book explored different parts of history.
The Royal Treasure (1977) This book is a detailed study of the Mudéjar Muslims in Aragon during the 14th century. These were Muslims who lived in Christian-ruled areas of Spain.
Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality (1980) This book explored how the Christian Church viewed certain relationships throughout history. Boswell suggested that the Church's views changed over time. He argued that, in earlier centuries, the Church might have been more accepting of some relationships than it was later. This book won a National Book Award and the Stonewall Book Award in 1981. However, some historians disagreed with his ideas.
The Kindness of Strangers: Child Abandonment in Western Europe (1988) This book looked at the history of children who were left by their parents in Western Europe. It studied how societies tried to care for these children. The title comes from a phrase Boswell found in old documents, meaning "the kindness of strangers."
The Marriage of Likeness: Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe (1994) In this book, Boswell studied old church ceremonies called adelphopoiesis. This Greek word means "the making of brothers." He suggested these ceremonies might have been like unions or marriages between people of the same gender in early Christian times. He translated many of these old rites in his book. He even pointed to an icon of two saints, Sergius and Bacchus, as possible evidence.
Many historians have debated Boswell's ideas and conclusions from this book. Some believe these ceremonies were more about becoming adopted brothers or "blood brothers" rather than marriages.
His Passing
John Boswell passed away on December 24, 1994, at the age of 47. He died in New Haven, Connecticut, due to health issues.
John Boswell's Works
- The Royal Treasure: Muslim Communities Under the Crown of Aragon in the Fourteenth Century (1977)
- Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century (1980)
- Rediscovering Gay History: Archetypes of Gay Love in Christian History (1982)
- The Kindness of Strangers: The Abandonment of Children in Western Europe from Late Antiquity to the Renaissance (1989)
- Homosexuality in the Priesthood and the Religious Life (1991) (co-author)
- Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe (1994)
See Also
- Adelphopoiesis
- The Bible and homosexuality
- Queer studies
- Queer theology
