AMS 225 History of Ancient and Medieval Medicine

In this survey course, students will be introduced to the theories and practices of ancient and medieval medicine in the West, beginning with its origins in the Near East, Egypt and Greece and then tracing its development in Rome and Europe of the Middle Ages. Through lecture and discussion of primary source documents, students will be exposed to a vast body of literature and evidence (both written and artistic) on some of the most important subjects in the field of medicine, ranging from the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases and ailments to the study of epidemics and particular subfields of medicine, including mental health, gynecology and obstetrics, and even veterinarian science. Particular attention will be paid to ethics and professional conduct, including oaths, the rise of specialized healing spaces, such as sanctuaries and hospitals, and controversial topics like eugenics, infanticide, abortion.