Introductory description

This module examines the various aspects of ancient medical knowledge in the Greco-Roman world, from the classical period to late antiquity. It focuses on medical texts and the wider historical, social and literary context in which they arose. It explores Hippocratic medical thought as 'anthropology', medical practice in all its diversity, and the religious dimensions of healing. Emphasis is laid upon the diversity of scholarly approaches to ancient medicine. The module is available as a Greek text option.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

This module is devoted to the study of ancient Greek and Roman medical ideas and techniques, from Homer to Late Antiquity, with hints at the reception of ancient medical knowledge in the medieval period and the Renaissance. While emphasis will be laid upon the Hippocratic tradition and medical thought within intellectual history, the module aims at presenting medicine in the wider context of ancient societies and cultures, from classical Athens to the Roman Empire. You will discover how medical thought developed as a form of anthropology, situating human beings within their environment; how ancient and modern concepts of 'ethics' interact; how the Hippocratics envisaged mental and physical health; how medicine reflected wider social issues, such as the place of women and other groups in society or the impact of religion on medical practices.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• By the end of this module students should expect to have enhanced their research, writing and communication skills.
• By the end of this module students should expect to gained an understanding of the availability, uses & limits of primary source material.
• By the end of this module students should expect to have a broad knowledge of medicine in the wider context of ancient societies and cultures, from classical Athens to the Roman Empire.
• By the end of this module students should expect to appreciate how ancient debates echo modern medical issues.

Indicative reading list

William Bynum, The History of Medicine: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: OUP, 2008)
L. I. Conrad et al., The Western Medical Tradition (Cambridge, CUP: 1995)
P. J. van der Eijk, Medicine and Philosophy in Classical Antiquity, (Cambridge: CUP 2007)
M. D. Grmek, Diseases in the Ancient Greek World (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989
R. J. Hankinson, The Cambridge Companion to Galen (Cambridge: CUP. 2008)
H. King, Hippocrates’ Woman: Reading the Female Body in Ancient Greece (London: Routledge, 1998)
R. Lane Fox, The invention of medicine, 2020
G. E. R. Lloyd, Hippocratic Writings (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1978)
V. Nutton, Ancient Medicine, 2013 (2nd edition)

Research element

Individual research is essential to complete the module coursework.

Interdisciplinary

Ancient medicine is, in essence, an interdisciplinary topic as it draws on various sources, literary and material, and invites various scholarly approaches.

Subject specific skills

Students will acquire knowledge of the field of ancient medicine broadly. They will become able to engage critically with the specific methodologies at work in the history of medicine as a field. They will learn of the various connections of ancient medical texts with ancient literature, history and culture. Those studying the module in the original will, in addition, hone their skills in ancient Greek through reading texts of interest to the study of ancient medicine.

Transferable skills

-Enhanced research, writing, communication and presentation skills.
-Ability to select and present material
clearly and with a coherent argument both verbally and in writing
-Experience of working alone and as part of a team to achieve individual objectives, facilitating transition from
university to an independent professional environment.
-Ability to deploy electronic technologies in their learning

• critical thinking
• problem solving
• active lifelong learning
• communication
• teamwork and working with others
• information literacy
• ICT literacy
• professionalism