In exploring child abuse in each of these cultures, the factors examined are patterns of child care, family life, law content bearing upon childrearing, treatment of slaves, and attitudes toward women. The study found that infanticide and child abuse varied in frequency and intensity during various periods of the cultures. When the cultures were characterized by stable marriages, marital and family love, and family and marital cooperation, infanticide and child abuse were not prevalent in the cultures. In cultures and periods when women were depreciated, spouses were separated due to war, and violence was prevalent, infanticide and child abuse increased. In drawing lessons from this historical study of child abuse in various cultures, recommendations for preventing child abuse are offered. These include the use of a homemaker service to prevent further child abuse and neglect, the use of day care as a means of modifying the problem of child abuse, economic assistance for financially distressed families, birth planning programs, and alcohol treatment programs. Chapter references and a subject index