Diet and health in early modern England and Italy : a comparative study of the theoretical and practical understandings of humoral principles
This thesis examines the assimilation and application of humoral medical knowledge in early modern Italy and England. By focusing on food and drink consumption, it seeks to examine how medical advice was expressed in printed health regimens and how it was applied in eating habits. The comparative aspect of this research aims to break down the homogenisation of the reception of humoral medicine in early modern Europe that is pervasive in studies of early modern medicine. This project focuses on four sets of ingredients, and it aims to re-evaluate the medical significance of food and drink. Historians have focused on the social and cultural meanings of food in the early modern period. I investigate understandings of how food was considered to be a source of nourishment for the body rather than placing an emphasis on food as a tool of social demarcation. This thesis fits into a recent revisionist strand of scholarship that aims to re-shape our understanding of differences in dietary habits amongst different social strata. This work combines a range of approaches to investigate the everyday experiences of individuals, families, cities, polities and nations with food and drink, from a medical standpoint. The study
Pozzetti, Giovanni
Diet and health in early modern England and Italy : a comparative study of the theoretical and practical understandings of humoral principles. This thesis examines the assimilation and application of humoral medical knowledge in early modern Italy and England. By focusing on food and drink consumption, it seeks to examine how medical advice was expressed in printed health regimens and how it was applied in eating habits. The comparative aspect of this research aims to break down the homogenisation of the reception of humoral medicine in early modern Europe that is pervasive in studies of early modern medicine. This project focuses on four sets of ingredients, and it aims to re-evaluate the medical significance of food and drink. Historians have focused on the social and cultural meanings of food in the early modern period. I investigate understandings of how food was considered to be a source of nourishment for the body rather than placing an emphasis on food as a tool of social demarcation. This thesis fits into a recent revisionist strand of scholarship that aims to re-shape our understanding of differences in dietary habits amongst different social strata. This work combines a range of approaches to investigate the everyday experiences of individuals, families, cities, polities and nations with food and drink, from a medical standpoint. The study
diet_health early_modern england italy comparative_study theoretical_practical understanding principle examines assimilation application medical_knowledge early_modern italy england focus food drink consumption seek_examine medical advice express printed health apply eat habit comparative aspect aim break reception medicine early_modern_europe pervasive study early_modern medicine project_focus set ingredient aim_re evaluate medical significance food drink historians focus social_cultural meaning food investigate understanding food consider source body rather place_emphasis food tool social demarcation fit recent revisionist strand scholarship aim_re shape difference dietary habit amongst different social_stratum work combine range approach investigate everyday_experience individual_family city polity nation food drink medical standpoint study