By John O. The “Plague of Justinian” is the name given to the disease that spread throughoutthe Eastern Roman Empire from 541-543 CE. It is named as such because it occurred during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (r. 527-565 CE), amidst his efforts to restore the glory of the Roman Empire.[1] Widespread militaryContinue reading “The Plague of Justinian”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Bald’s Leechbooks
By Jade J. Every year, everyone is expected to get checked by their doctor at least once to make sure their bodies are healthy and in good balance.[1] During the physical examination, doctors typically consult patients about their history, analyze the patient’s body functions like heartbeat and breathing, and inspect the patient’s physique, including height,Continue reading “Bald’s Leechbooks”
Galen
By Ryan H. Galen was born in the Anatolian city of Pergamon in September, 129 CE. Galen was born to influence; his father, Nicon, commanded both great wealth and a towering intellect. A scholar of math, astronomy, philosophy and literature, Nicon made sure his son was constantly learning.[1] At age fourteen, Galen began to attend lectures inContinue reading “Galen”
Hippocrates
By George M. In the interval between antiquity and the medieval period, much of the defining developments in the arts and sciences were abandoned as the world entered, begrudgingly, into an era marked by paralysis and a collective melancholy. However, the discoveries of one ancient Greek physician were never cast aside; rather, some of hisContinue reading “Hippocrates”
Defining Health
As part of our class discussion on the terms “health/healthy” and “ill/illness,” the students developed working definitions. The resulting word cloud is below. Interestingly, a variety of approaches to health may be observed, including the traditional concept and the World Health Organization concept.
Sample Blog Post: Cesarean Section
In 2017, 32% of deliveries in America were performed by Cesarean section.[1] Today, medical journals, OBGYNs and bloggers offer differing opinions on how many deliveries of this type should be performed, as well as the risks inherent in the procedure.[2] In medieval Europe, however, these concerns were not considered, because in almost all cases, theContinue reading “Sample Blog Post: Cesarean Section”
Course Syllabus
The course syllabus is now available via a link at the top of this page.
Welcome to “Plagues and Peoples”
“[Health is] a way for imperfect men to live a rewarding and not too painful life in an imperfect world” — René Dubos. “Determinants of Health and Disease,” in Culture, Disease, and Healing, edited by David Landy (New York: Macmillan, 1977), 32. Welcome to the website for the Fordham University course “Plagues and Peoples: Health andContinue reading “Welcome to “Plagues and Peoples””
Plagues and Peoples: Health and Disease in Medieval Europe 