Early medical practices are not just a historical curiosity, but real stories about people and health that may teach us much about the 21st century. This intriguing volume offers a comparative examination of early medicine and health care in regions as varied as ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, China, the Islamic world, and medieval Europe.
• Excerpts from significant original texts to illustrate the concepts discussed
• Illustrations drawn from many different ancient and medieval cultures portraying health care providers and the treatment of patients
• Photographs depicting medical instruments and medicinal herbs
• A bibliography that puts special emphasis on identifying English-language translations of original documents for those who would like to read the primary materials themselves