The ancient Near East was home to a multitude of civilizations, across Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Levant, each with unique views on medicine, conception, and women’s role in society. Attitudes towards contraception and abortion varied according to these beliefs. Both the oldest medical literature on performing abortions and the first known law against abortion come from the Near East.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2054/family-planning-in-the-ancient-near-east/.