The Black Death and the Future of Medicine

The Black Death was a catastrophic event in Europe's history. It had both devastating immediate effects and deep long-term consequences. This book investigates the nature and gravity of the Black Death's effects on medicine and its historical development in Europe. It outlines the existing structure and characteristics of the medical system before the Black Death and then discusses both change and continuity in the medical practices thereafter. The Black Death revealed the shortcomings of the existing medical system in Europe and intensified the struggle between physicians and surgeons for status, yet, it did not completely destroy the existing medical system. Thus, the Black Death represents an event that helped shape medieval medicine's course of development, and as such, helped shape the development of future medical practices. Suitable for a broad range of readers, this work provides an easy to follow investigation of medieval medical practices adn their relation to the Black Death.