https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychohistory

Medieval Times, starting 500 AD Early Christians considered a child as having a soul at birth, although possessed by evil tendencies. Routine infanticide was replaced by joining in the group fantasy of the sacrifice of Christ, who was sent by his father to be killed for the sins of others. Routine pederasty of boys continued in monasteries and elsewhere, and the rape of girls was commonplace Infanticide replaced by abandonment. Those children who survived the experience did not internalize a completely murderous superego. Longer swaddling, fosterage, outside wetnursing, oblation of children to monasteries and nunneries, and apprenticeship. The one institution to which parents could abandon their children and know they were likely to live was the religious order. Last two quotes from http://psychohistory.com/ books/the-emotional-life-of-nations/ chapter-8-the-evolution-of-childrearing/ Parents knew monasteries and nunneries were abusive-“there is an inscription over the gate of hell: ‘Abandon all hope, you who enter’; on the gate of monasteries, the same should appear”-but they nevertheless paid good money to them to dump their children in them permanently. Most oblates were children of aristocrats, so there is no argument for economic necessity, and gave large gifts to the religious orders to take their children, usually at around five years of age Other links: http://psychohistory.com/books/the-origins-of-war-in-child-abuse/ chapter-9-bipolar-christianity-how-torturing-sinful-children-produced-holy-wars/