Una ciutat medieval en cerca de la salut (Xàtiva, 1250-1500)

The flames wich ended wich ended with almost every historical documentation of Xativa haven’t impeded the author from making a thorough task of archivistical research to reconstruct the difusion and the social use of medicine in the capital of the Costera during the medieval autumm.
Two centuries and a half of xativism history allows us to see the transformations of the medical practices. From the first barbers to the renowned medics taught in universities outside the Crown of Aragon, in the service of popes and kings, as well as women, renowned for their competence, or apothecarians that supplied medicines, this book presents an ample mosaic of individuals dedicated to prevent illnesses and help the ill. It also shows the effort of the municipal authorities to guarantee a permanent presence of prestigious professionals as well as acomplishing an urban atmosphere that was more healthy. Because the utility of medicine, built upon the galenist paradigm, went beyond the curing of the ill, and was constituted as a key for the accurate organization of society. Hospitals, jails, convents, tribunals..., whatever institution was in some way, medicalized.

Carmel Ferragud is a titular professor of the University of Valencia and an investigator of the Ineruniversity Institute “López Piñero”. His research has been dedicated to diverse aspects of the history of medicine and the science during the medieval era in the Crown of Aragon, particularly the assistance models in diverse valencian townships and the appeals to the experts in the justice tribunals. He has also been interested in the history of the seneschals, alchemy and astrology. He is part of a team in the line of research Sciència.cat repeatedly financed by the spanish government and the European Union with projects directed by Lluís Cifuentes, from the University of Barcelona. Among his publications shine the monographies Medicina i promoció social a la Baixa Edat Mitjana (Corona d’Aragó, 1350-1410) (2005; Prize Hernández Morejon 2002 and XIX Prize Ferran Soldevila 2002), La cura dels animals: menescals i menescalia a la València medieval (Afers, 2009; Prize Senyera d’Investigacions Històriques 2004) and Medicina per a un nou regne: el paper de la medicina i els seus practicants en la construcció del regne de València ( XIII century) (2009; X Prize d’Assaig Mancomunitat de la Ribera Alta).