Fathers and Godfathers: Spiritual Kinship in Early-Modern Italy

Contents: Introduction Godparenthood and spiritual kinship: the origins of a distinctive social institution Godparents and compari between the 15th and 16th centuries: a wide variety of local customs Godparenthood, literature and family records: from perception to interpretation Godparenthood in the 16th century: from the Reformation to the Council of Trent The application of the decrees of the Council: resistance and compromise: 3 lines of enquiry The social impact of the reform Newborn babies and spiritual kinship: equal opportunities or discrimination? Godfathers and godmothers: the case of Ivrea Godparenthood as an instrument of social alliance Godparenthood from the 17th century to the present day: a history of decline? Appendix Bibliography Index.