When did people understand where children come from?
score:18
The Ancient Egyptians were pretty much aware of the general mechanics of childbirth.
The earliest source I could find is one of the Kahun Papyri, the Kahun Gynaecological Papyrus (~1850 BC). It deals with women's health, including pregnancy, fertility, menstrual issues and medical contraception. This last issue, contraception, is the more revealing of the Egyptians understanding of childbirth. Contraception, and birth control in general, cannot be effective without at least a general idea of where children come from.
The papyrus encourages the use of crocodile feces as a contraceptive. The method relies on applying the excrement inside the v***na and forming a wall that would block the sperm. Furthermore crocodile feces are slightly alkaline, like modern spermicides, so the method might have offered a second level of contraception.
The Berlin Papyrus (Middle Kingdom: ~2000 BC to ~1700 BC) suggests a similar method, replacing crocodile feces with ash from burning emmer (wheat) seeds. Regardless of the material used, the method survived for almost 3 millenia. It appears in Avicenna's Canon of Medicine (~1025 AD), with Avicenna preferring elephant excrement.
The medical Ebers Papyrus (~1550 BC) shows a leap in medical knowledge since the Kahun Papyrus, discussing, amongst other things, abortion and providing a formula for a v***nal pessary.
Sources:
- The 'Kahun Medical Papyrus' or 'Gynaecological Papyrus', translation by Stephen Quirke
- Contraception: A History, Robert Jütte
- Eve's Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the West, John M. Riddle
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