Medieval and Early Renaissance Medicine: An Introduction to Knowledge and Practice (Paperback)

by Nancy G. Siraisi (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Western Europe supported a highly developed and diverse medical community in the late medieval and early Renaissance periods. In her absorbing history of this complex era in medicine, Siraisi explores the inner workings of the medical community and illustrates the connections of medicine to both natural philosophy and technical skills.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (June 15, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226761304
• ISBN-13: 978-0226761305
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #418,498 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough, very helpful., March 21, 2003

By	Maggie the Lizard Tamer (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This is a very thorough account of the practice of medicine in the Middle Ages. It covers most key points such as humors, blood-letting, women healers, hospitals, the role of religion in medicine, the taboos regarding medicine and other topics. It is greatly documented for further research and I recommend it highly to anyone interested in the topic, especially that it is written in a rather approachable and enjoyable fashion. It is a great starting point for research on medieval medicine, medieval social standards, and medieval everyday life.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid survey of medieval medicine in Europe, March 14, 2005

By	Daniel Christensen "early modern historian" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Siraisi, a leading scholar in the history of medicine, has been generous by writing this c. 200 page survey of medieval medicine in the west. What stands out about the book is her interaction with academic medicine--such as her treatment on medical education and early ventures in anatomy, and her recognition of the importance of Islamic medicine and scholarship for European medicine in the middle ages and renaissance.

The author treats surgery, pathology, anatomy, physiology, and many other subfields of learning and practice. She interacts with the Christian worldview and religious understandings of sickness and health, albeit from a standpoint of elitist medical practitioners. As an expert on Galen, her treatment of his impact in medieval Europe is worth the price alone.

For an introduction to medical education and the innovators in medicine (without being just another "Garrison"), this book is recommended.