Medieval & Early Renaissance Medicine

Nancy G. Siraisi

Medieval & Early Renaissance Medicine

An Introduction to Knowledge and Practice 

 

Medieval Medicine

The author covers the period from the middle of 12^th to 15^th century in the history of medicine. The subject is the practitioners of literate and technical medicine in Europe. Author names three aspects of medicine in this period that has significance for its history.

First aspect is about the role of medicine in the history of science and technology in Western Europe of that period. Greek science transformed the perception of physical universe by medieval doctors. Especial significance have Ptolemaic and Aristotelian theories. In noticed period of time Greek medicine achieved high level of knowledge. Greek medicine development had influenced the process of shaping ideas of human body, animal and plant kingdoms in Medieval and Renaissance times.

The second aspect, covered in the book, is about social and cultural patterns in medicine. Medicine is an occupation, that combines high culture and technical progress within one discipline. In complex society of Middle ages, men and women, clergy and laity, scholastics and herbalists could work as medical practitioners. Despite the great number of medieval beliefs and doctrines in medicine of that time, scientists believe that the fundamental assumptions about human body, its illness and wellness were made in that period.

The third aspect connected to the higher medical education of that time, its institutional, social and intellectual characteristics. In 16th century the creation of new anatomy and physiology takes place; famous contributors are Vesalius and Harvey.

These three aspects are not only interesting things in this book. Author’s aim was not to cover all aspects of medicine in Middle Ages and Renaissance, but to present the most important moments of medicine science history.

Discover the world of 12-16 centuries medical science, first practitioners, their beliefs and theories.