The Middle Ages often has a bad reputation. Begun after the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476, it stands out in Europe by a period nicknamed “the dark age”. Generally perceived as an era of cultural, economic and political decline, it is associated with a decline in scientific progress. However, modern historians nuance this vision. A project from the University of St Andrews, in Scotland, perfectly illustrates this trend.
Led in collaboration with other Institutes in Europe and America, St Andrews’ study was aimed at establishing a new catalog of Latin medical manuscripts in the High Middle Ages (the real name of “dark age”). Against all expectations, scientists have got their hands on hundreds of them, explains Iflscience.
An age not so obscure
Their research has shown that men of the Middle Ages were very interested in the development of remedies and by sharing health advice. The texts collected prove that medieval Christians were also strongly interested in the knowledge of ancient, non -Christian Greek medicine. Many medicinal recipes included herbs and exotic spices (such as cloves or cumin), which could only be thousands of kilometers from Europe, testifying to a dynamic commercial network.
This information has long been neglected by researchers because it was often written in the margins of theology or grammar works. Many of these volumes were written by monks and their content was sometimes surprising. The study evokes in particular one of these discoveries: the recipe for a lizard shampoo.
Some texts also demonstrate that the peoples of the High Middle Ages were not so different from us. Like our contemporary well-being influencers, there is a lively craze for seasonal health care as well as for diets intended to prevent diseases. They also advocated moderation on all levels, the consumption of seasonal foods and encouraged to reduce toxins. A speech not so different from that which can be heard today.
One of the main conclusions of this study is that medical knowledge was omnipresent at the time. The writings show that people were curious and collected all kinds of useful documents. “The team hopes that the project will present the medieval period in a more positive light, by highlighting the curiosity of people and their thirst for knowledge”concludes iflscience.
