History of Old Age in Western Culture

The book examines how Western societies have constructed and redefined the concept of old age across the centuries. Rather than treating ageing as a fixed biological condition, it presents it as a dynamic social and historical process shaped by cultural values, economic systems, and institutional frameworks. Adopting a two-level analytical perspective, the author explores both family dynamics and broader social structures, challenging the widespread notion of a "Golden Age" in which older people were universally respected. Costanzi clearly distinguishes between senescence (biological cellular deterioration) and ageing as a multidimensional process, showing how the confusion between these concepts has contributed to forms of discrimination. Through the analysis of artistic and iconographic representations, the book highlights the tension between inner identity and the visible signs of ageing, tracing how older individuals have been alternately marginalised and idealised across different historical periods. In doing so, it offers scholars, practitioners, and policymakers a valuable framework for rethinking ageing in contemporary society.