Many medieval cities established licensed brothels to control public order and generate tax revenue.
Prostitution was a legal, taxed, and regulated business. While sex workers (often slaves or freedwomen) occupied a low social status ( infamia ), the practice was considered a necessary "vent" to protect the sanctity of marriage. The Middle Ages: Tolerance and Regulation The History of Prostitution
In many early societies, sex work was integrated into religious and civic life. The History of Prostitution