Old-time Makers of Medicine: The Story of the Students and Teachers of the Sciences Related to Medicine During the Middle Ages
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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.
