Nancy G. Siraisi Boeken

"During the Renaissance, collections of letters both satisfied humanist enthusiasm for ancient literary forms and provided the flexibility of a format appropriate to many types of inquiry. The printed collections of medical letters by Giovanni Manardo of Ferrara and other physicians in early sixteenth-century Europe may thus be regarded as products of medical humanism. The letters of mid- and late sixteenth-century Italian and German physicians examined in Communities of Learned Experience by Nancy G. Siraisi also illustrate practices associated with the concepts of the Republic of Letters: open and relatively informal communication among a learned community and a liberal exchange of information and ideas. Additionally, such published medical correspondence may often have served to provide mutual reinforcement of professional reputation. Siraisi uses some of these collections to compare approaches to sharing medical knowledge across broad regions of Europe and within a city, with the goal of illuminating geographic differences as well as diversity within social, urban, courtly, and academic environments of medical learning and practice. The collections she has selected include essays on general medical topics addressed to colleagues or disciples, some advice for individual patients (usually written at the request of the patient's doctor), and a strong dose of controversy."--Project Muse

Exploring the intersection of medicine and Renaissance culture, this book delves into the extensive medical writings of Girolamo Cardano, a multifaceted figure known for his contributions as a mathematician, astrologer, and autobiographer. Nancy Siraisi highlights key themes in Cardano's work, showcasing the complexity and diversity of the medical landscape during the Renaissance while illuminating his broad intellectual pursuits. This analysis offers a rich perspective on how Cardano's medical insights reflect the cultural currents of his time.

Focusing on the historical significance of Avicenna's Canon, this work explores its impact on medieval and Renaissance medicine, particularly in sixteenth- and early seventeenth-century Italy. Nancy Siraisi examines how the text shaped university curricula, influencing the philosophy of medicine and physiological theory during this transformative period in European medical education. The study highlights the Canon's enduring legacy and its integration into the broader context of medical learning.

This volume of collected essays deals with medicine in the university world of thirteenth to sixteenth century Italy, discussing both the internal academic milieu of teaching and learning and its relation to the surrounding culture of medieval and Renaissance Italian cities.