I've wondered what would become of someone back in the old world, say Roman era, who was handicapped, either by birth or circumstance. I don't see the topic brought up in many literary works.
Battles were brutal affairs and losing limbs or the ability to use them must have been a permanent struggle. Falling from a horse could cause an injury. Manual labour without machinery could cause permanent injury.
So what would life be like for someone who say broke their back and lost all movement in their arms and legs, would there have been services or would someone probably just "put them out of their misery"? As messed up as the thought might be I don't see, historically, too much evidence of wheelchair accessible ramps or a network of social services (not to deny it could exist) in old world cultures.
Thoughts or evidence?
Battles were brutal affairs and losing limbs or the ability to use them must have been a permanent struggle. Falling from a horse could cause an injury. Manual labour without machinery could cause permanent injury.
So what would life be like for someone who say broke their back and lost all movement in their arms and legs, would there have been services or would someone probably just "put them out of their misery"? As messed up as the thought might be I don't see, historically, too much evidence of wheelchair accessible ramps or a network of social services (not to deny it could exist) in old world cultures.
Thoughts or evidence?
