This history of medical thought from antiquity through the Middle Ages reconstructs the slow transformations and sudden changes in theory and practice that marked the birth and early development of Western medicine. Grmek and his contributors adopt a synthetic, cross-disciplinary approach, with attention to cultural, social, and economic forces.
The book "Old-Time Maker, Medicine" is a tremendous contribution to the history of pioneers, practice, and medical thought. James J. Walsh offers a comprehensive evaluation of exactly how medicine has evolved due to personal genius and the wider cultural, political, and intellectual current of the period. A more complete historical context specific to this work: Historical Context for "Old-Time Makers of Medicine" Ancient Foundations: Spiritual and religious views were strongly associated in ancient civilizations through medicine. Egyptians, Greeks, and the Mesopotamians combined divinity and health, assuming that diseases had been both natural functions in addition to divine punishments. The Greeks especially started emphasizing the significance of natural reasons for diseases. This marked a major advancement from blaming illnesses exclusively on the whims of god. Interplay of Civilizations: The Roman Empire had a huge expanse and absorbed and gathered medical knowledge from each one of the territories it conquered, including Greece. The outcome was a rich tapestry of practical yet profoundly Greek - rational medical thought. As Europe entered the Dark Ages post the fall of the Roman Empire, the torchbearers of medical and scientific knowledge had been the Islamic civilizations. They not only preserved Greek and Roman sources but also expanded on them, creating complete medical works. The Church and medieval Europe: Europe experienced upheavals and invasion throughout the early medieval period. The Church was a significant preserver of knowledge throughout turbulent times. The monasteries served as sites of repose and study for old texts. Universities appeared in Europe as stability resurfaced with time. The foundations for formal medical education were laid by these institutions while they routinely studied medicine. Renaissance - A Rebirth: Art, science, and thought experienced a rebirth throughout the Renaissance. A return to classical sources entails re - reading ancient Greek and Roman texts. This period also saw challenges to traditional thoughts. The universal acceptance of Galenic medicine was disputed and oftentimes denied, particularly with the growth of exact anatomical studies. Cultural and Intellectual Currents: Medicine wasn't restricted to managing ailments during these times. The society's wider intellectual currents were reflected in it. Each period had a taste which shaped medical thought, whether it had been the philosophical view of the Greeks, the pragmatic stance of the Romans, the scientific pursuits of the Islamic Golden Age or the humanistic tendencies of Renaissance.
Medicine and Healing in the Premodern West traces the history of medicine and medical practice from Ancient Egypt through to the end of the Middle Ages. Featuring nearly one hundred primary documents and images, this book introduces readers to the words and ideas of men and women from across Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, from prominent physicians to humble healers. Each of the book’s ten chronological and thematic chapters is given a significant historical introduction, in which each primary source is described in its original context. Many of the included source texts are newly translated by the editor, some of them appearing in English for the first time.
Early medical practices are not just a historical curiosity, but real stories about people and health that may teach us much about the 21st century. This intriguing volume offers a comparative examination of early medicine and health care in regions as varied as ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, China, the Islamic world, and medieval Europe. Health and Wellness in Antiquity through the Middle Ages compares and contrasts health-care practices in seven different cultures from around the world. In considering the range of medical practitioners in each society, and the kinds of health care they provided, it examines the development of a written medical tradition, the methods of medical education, the practice of surgery, and the theories and practices of pharmacy. Other topics include the application of medicine in specific contexts, such as the treatment of women, children, and those with mental illness. Another important theme explored is the impact of religion and state institutions on the development, implementation, and results of medical care as experienced by real people in real life. Throughout, the book offers an international historical perspective, which allows for greater comparative and critical understanding of how different cultural beliefs influenced the development and management of health care.
With a focus on science in the ancient societies of Greece and Rome, including glimpses into Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China, 'The Oxford Handbook of Science and Medicine in the Classical World' offers an in depth synthesis of science and medicine circa 650 BCE to 650 CE. 0The Handbook comprises five sections, each with a specific focus on ancient science and medicine. The Handbook provides through each of its approximately four dozen essays, a synthesis and synopsis of the concepts and models of the various ancient natural sciences, covering the early Greek era through the fall of the Roman Republic, including essays that explore topics such as music theory, ancient philosophers, astrology, and alchemy.
Gerald of Wales (c.1146–c.1223), widely recognized for his innovative ethnographic studies of Ireland and Wales, was in fact the author of some twenty-three works which touch upon many aspects of twelfth-century life. Despite their valuable insights, these works have been vastly understudied. This collection of essays reassesses Gerald’s importance as a medieval Latin writer and rhetorician by focusing on his lesser-known works and providing a fuller context for his more popular writings. This broader view of his corpus brings to light new evidence for his rhetorical strategies, political positioning and usage of source material, and attests to the breadth and depth of his collected works.
In recent decades, there has been a new surge of interest in the history and legacies of the Silk Roads both within academic and public discourses. A field of Silk Roads Studies has come into its own. Consciously mirroring the temperament of its subject, the field has moved out of the narrow niches of particular disciplines to become a truly interdisciplinary endeavor. New research findings about the historical operations of the Silk Roads and interpretations of their legacies for the modern and contemporary world have broken down geographical and temporal divides that once demarcated the Silk Roads as primarily pre-modern and Old World-centered conduits of globalization. In light of these developments, the time is ripe to begin formulating a new definition of the contour of Silk Roads Studies and laying a new foundation for further work in this field. Silk Roads: From Local Realities to Global Narratives brings together leading scholars in multiple disciplines related to Silk Roads studies. It highlights the multiplicity of networks that constituted the Silk Roads, including land and maritime routes, and approaches the Silk Roads from Antiquity to China’s One Belt One Road Initiative from Afro-Eurasia to the Americas. This holistic approach to understanding ancient globalization, exchanges, transformations, and movements - and their continued relevance to the present - is in line with contemporary academic trends toward interdisciplinarity. Indeed, the Silk Roads is such an expansive topic that many approaches to its study must be included to represent accurately its many facets. The volume emphasizes exchange and transformation along the Silk Roads - moments of acculturation or hybridization that contributed to novel syncretic forms. It highlights the multiplicity of networks that constituted the Silk Roads, including land and maritime routes, and approaches to the Silk Roads from Antiquity to China’s One Belt One Road Initiative from Afro-Eurasia to the Americas.
A Companion to Science, Technology, and Medicine in Ancient Greece and Rome brings a fresh perspective to the study of these disciplines in the ancient world, with 60 chapters examining these topics from a variety of critical and technical perspectives. Brings a fresh perspective to the study of science, technology, and medicine in the ancient world, with 60 chapters examining these topics from a variety of critical and technical perspectives Begins coverage in 600 BCE and includes sections on the later Roman Empire and beyond, featuring discussion of the transmission and reception of these ideas into the Renaissance Investigates key disciplines, concepts, and movements in ancient science, technology, and medicine within the historical, cultural, and philosophical contexts of Greek and Roman society Organizes its content in two halves: the first focuses on mathematical and natural sciences; the second focuses on cultural applications and interdisciplinary themes 2 Volumes
