Greek and Roman Medicine (Classical World Series) [Paperback]

Helen King (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1853995452 | ISBN-13: 978-1853995453 | Publication Date: November 6, 2001

This introduction to ancient medical systems asks how the experience of illness and the role of medicine were understood in the Greek and Roman worlds. Although topics such as the development of anatomical knowledge are covered, the book focuses on the place of medicine within changing types of society. Table of Contents: List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Preface 1. The origins of Greek medicine 2. Hippocratic medicine 3. The Plague of Athens 4. Alexandrian medicine 5. Greek medicine at Rome 6. Galen and his contemporaries 7. Curing illness 8. After ancient medicine Conclusion Suggestions for Further Study Suggestions for Further Reading Index

Product Details

• Paperback: 84 pages
• Publisher: Duckworth Publishers (November 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1853995452
• ISBN-13: 978-1853995453
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,074,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I studied Ancient History and Social Anthropology at UCL, graduating in 1980. I gained my doctorate in 1985 with a thesis on ancient Greek concepts of menstruation, and have continued to work on ancient medicine and its cultural context, while also exploring the reception of ancient medical ideas about the female body, menstruation and birth up to the nineteenth century. It still amazes me that ancient ideas about women survived for so long, despite changes elsewhere in how the body was understood. I have held research fellowships in Cambridge and Newcastle, worked for 8 years in Liverpool, and am currently Professor of the History of Classical Medicine at the University of Reading. I've been a visiting lecturer at Mount Allison University, University of Victoria BC, and University of Texas, as well as a Fellow at the Netherland Institute for Advanced Studies. In addition to my 'day job', I am a Visiting Professor at the Peninsula Medical School, where I teach the history of dissection to medical students.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat disappointing..., December 6, 2010

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G. Soos "emanigol" (Dublin, GA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Greek and Roman Medicine (Classical World Series) (Paperback)

I am wondering if this book was written for a university course work, as a brief introduction or more of a generic item. For the price both the content and length of the book feel unsatisfactory. It is possible that we simply do not know enough about this topic to result in a lengthier tome, even so, major details appear missing. For one, the Roman legions did not conquer the known world without a well developed military health care system, possibly including surgical procedures to treat battle wounds, community health activities to stay healthy at camp, during campaigns or in hostile environments like Parthia or Britannica. There is absolutely no description of anything about this. Since we know that the legions had many masters of many trades, were there any Greek "medics" or the soldiers just amputated each other's legs after a rough day in Germania? How about taking care of the wounds of prized gladiators? No mentioning of the magical antiseptic effects of silver as the army of Alexander the Great almost revolted against the officers. There is also a very vague description of the Plague of Athens, of which one can find more data on wikipedia than reading this book. The influence of Egyptian medicine is also neglected, just as well the possible adaptation of healing methods of annexed territories. Did Rome contribute nothing else to the history of medicine than Galen's work? So, although the writer clearly cares and is compassionate about the topic the book just feels...well...disappointing.