Springboard Course Fall 2014
The History of Medieval Medicine and its Relation to Holistic Medicine
Professors Jenny Kijowski and Joe Ugoretz
Student: Maryam Esperanza F. Razaz
Syllabus created by Student
Medicine, just like everything that exists in modern day, is a product from history that is ever evolving. When considering the history of medicine, many would start in antiquity and then fast forward to the Renaissance or modern era, entirely skipping the medieval era supposing that nothing of true consequence developed then. Granted the Middle Ages had this connotation of a “dark era” in which hardly anything was done, but it was through the work of medieval universities and healers alike who preserved the teachings of Greek philosophers from which medicine evolved. In order to understand medicine from the Middle Ages, one needs to understand how medicine was practiced in the early Middle Ages and the possible mindset of these healers. Then, the connections between the High and Late Middle Ages, when more unique contributions to medicine were made, with the Early Middle ages will become much more apparent. After understanding the differing and similar theories of medicine from these three periods within this era, one can then find the connection with Holistic Medicine, specifically Ayurveda Medicine, which is known to be the oldest medicine in the world. This course is designed to understand the differing theories of medicine starting with the Early Middle Ages to the Late Middle Ages and then to the theories and practice of Ayurveda Medicine.
Course Goals
- To provide a background on Medieval History.
- To understand the different theories of medicine from the Early, High and Late Middle Ages and possibly discover from where they orginated.
- To analyze the medicine and herbs used in Western Europe in the Middle Ages.
- To provide a history of Ayurveda medicine.
- To understand the different theories of Ayurveda medicine and the practice of it.
- To discover the similarities between Ayurveda and Medieval Medicine by comparing theories and herbs.
- To ascertain the influence of these two medicines on each other, possibly, and on modern medicine.
Course Objectives
Upon the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Discuss the significance of Medieval Medicine and its importance to Modern Medicine.
- Discuss the significance of Ayurveda Medicine and its influence on Medieval Medicine and Modern Medicine.
- Analyze a wide range of primary and secondary Medieval and Ayurveda documents.
- Construct well-supported, articulated arguments from these analyses that the student develops throughout the course.
Course Schedule
To be updated as Course continues
August 29
- Introduction to Springboard Course
September 5
- Learning Timelines due
- Critique previous Capstone Projects
- Research Journal due on history of Early Medieval Medicine, Alchemy and Medieval Science
September 12
- Research Journal due on theories of Early Medieval Medicine
- Update Annotated Bibliography
September 19
- Research Journal due on the herbs of Early Medieval Medicine
- Update Annotated Bibliography
September 23
- Research Journal due on history of High Medieval Medicine
October 10
- Research Journal due on theories of High Medieval Medicine
- Have a completed abstract.
October 17
- Research Journal due on the herbs of High Medieval Medicine
October 24
- Research Journal due on history of Late Medieval Medicine
October 31
- Research Journal due on theories of Late Medieval Medicine
November 7
- Research Journal due on the herbs of Late Medieval Medicine
November 14
- Research Journal due on history of Ayurveda Medicine
November 21
- Research Journal due on theories of Ayurveda Medicine
December 5
- Research Journal due on the herbs of Ayurveda Medicine
December 12
Paper on work completed due
