Medievalists.net

Where the Middle Ages Begin

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Online Courses
  • Podcast
  • Patreon Login
  • About Us & More
    • About Us
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Films & TV
    • Medieval Studies Programs
    • Places To See
    • Teaching Resources
    • Articles

Medievalists.net

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Online Courses
  • Podcast
  • Patreon Login
  • About Us & More
    • About Us
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Films & TV
    • Medieval Studies Programs
    • Places To See
    • Teaching Resources
    • Articles
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Articles

Integrative Medicine: Incorporating Medicine and Health into the Canon of Medieval European History

by Medievalists.net
January 18, 2014

Medieval medicineIntegrative Medicine: Incorporating Medicine and Health into the Canon of Medieval European History

Monica H. Green

History Compass: 7/4 (2009): 1218–1245

Abstract

Hitherto peripheral (if not outright ignored) in general medieval historiography, medieval medical history is now a vibrant subdiscipline, one that is rightlyattracting more and more attention from ‘mainstream’ historians and other studentsof cultural history. It does, however, have its particular characteristics, and under-standing its source materials, methods, and analytical limitations may help thosenot trained in the field better navigate, explore and potentially contribute to itspossibilities for illuminating the intersections of medicine and health with other aspects of medieval culture. Although this article focuses primarily on western Europe, many of its observations are also relevant to the Islamic world and Byzantium precisely because all three cultures shared many of the same intellectual traditions and social structures. The attached bibliography serves as a general introduction to the current state of the field.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, studies surveying the general landscape of medieval Europe continue to give short shrift – or ignore outright – topics related to disease, health, and disability and the learned and practical traditions of knowledge associated with them. For example, in a survey of literacy and the impact the cultures of writing had on medieval society, medicine does not merit even a passing reference, despite its standing as one of three higher faculties in many universities. Similarly, a general collection of essays on medieval culture has nothing beyond a piece on the division of the corpse, a very minor element of medieval understandings and practices of the body.

Click here to read this article from History Compass

Subscribe to Medievalverse




Related Posts

  • Integrative Medicine: Incorporating Medicine and Health into the Canon of MedievalEuropean History
  • Drugs, Books, Patients: Marketing Medieval Medicine
  • The transition from monastic to secular medicine in medieval England
  • Medical ‘Emplotment’ and Plotting Medicine: Health and Disease in Late Medieval Portuguese Chronicles
  • An Analysis of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Understanding of Medicine and its Influence on His Work
TagsByzantium • Disabilities in the Middle Ages • Disease • Europe in the Middle Ages • Healthcare in the Middle Ages • Islam in the Middle Ages • Medieval Historiography • Medieval Literature • Medieval Medicine • Medieval Social History

Post navigation

Previous Post Previous Post
Next Post Next Post

Medievalists Membership

Become a member to get ad-free access to our website and our articles. Thank you for supporting our website!

Sign Up Member Login

More from Medievalists.net

Become a Patron

We've created a Patreon for Medievalists.net as we want to transition to a more community-funded model.

 

We aim to be the leading content provider about all things medieval. Our website, podcast and Youtube page offers news and resources about the Middle Ages. We hope that are our audience wants to support us so that we can further develop our podcast, hire more writers, build more content, and remove the advertising on our platforms. This will also allow our fans to get more involved in what content we do produce.

Become a Patron Member Login

Medievalists.net

Footer Menu

  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • Copyright © 2025 Medievalists.net
  • Powered by WordPress
  • Theme: Uku by Elmastudio
Follow us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter