DESCRIPTION
This book by Laura Zucconi is an accessible introductory text to the practice and theory of medicine in the ancient world. In contrast to other works that focus heavily on Greece and Rome, Zucconi’s Ancient Medicine covers a broader geographical and chronological range. The world of medicine in antiquity consisted of a lot more than Hippocrates and Galen.
Zucconi applies historical and anthropological methods to examine the medical cultures of not only Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome but also the Levant, the Anatolian Peninsula, and the Iranian Plateau. Devoting special attention to the fundamental relationship between medicine and theology, Zucconi’s one-volume introduction brings the physicians, patients, procedures, medicines, and ideas of the past to light.
REVIEWS
CHOICE
“Zucconi explores medical anthropology concepts in relation to the ancient world while providing intriguing and useful information for the average historian.”
Review of Biblical Literature
“Zucconi’s presentation is comprehensive and very readable. . . . Ancient Medicine: From Mesopotamia to Rome is a valuable resource on ancient medicine that is likely to be a standard reference for years to come.”