Bruises, Bumps and Bloody Wounds. Body Injuries to the Victims of Physical Volence in Gdańsk in the 16th−17th Centuries

The paper explores the issue of physical injuries resulting from interpersonal conflicts, in particular arguments, disputes, ordinary brawls and deliberate acts of physical violence occurring in the lower and middle classes in urban settings, based on the example of Gdańsk at the end of the 16th century and in the first half of the 17th century. This is based on the records of physical examination reports drawn up by the city’s barber‑surgeons on behalf of the municipal authorities for law enforcement purposes, subsequently appended to the burgrave’s and deputy mayor’s registers. In total, more than 18,000 such documents dated between 1580 and 1642 have survived. This enables an analysis of the subject at hand on a icro‑historical scale, as well as employing a statistical (quantitative) approach. The paper considers undamental issues pertaining to the nature and extent of injuries, common injury types, lasting damage, as well as questions regarding injuries, the origin and cause of which fall between physical and symbolic violence – this concerns aggressive demonstrative behaviour, marks of shame and others.