[VIII] 



ANATOMY DURING THE EUROPEAN 

 RENAISSANCE-A.D. 1350 to 1650 



A. General Characteristics of the Period 



Jji the encyclopedic literature pertaining to the period of the 

 Renaissance, roughly between A.D. 1350 and 1650, not much is 

 mentioned in respect to the accomplishments of medicine; it is 

 a field which is not specifically highlighted. Nevertheless, as far 

 as human anatomy is concerned, it represents probably one of the 

 most important and spectacular periods in the history of the sub- 

 ject. This is because pioneers dared to come to grips with the 

 superstitions and hostilities of the populace, to make accurate ob- 

 servations on the structure of the human body and to report what 

 they saw at the risk of censure and social ostracism. 



At this time, when the mediaeval pattern was dissolving, cer- 

 tain men became interested in the physical world, in the life ol 

 sensation and concrete experience, in the character and oppor- 

 tunities offered the individual. Whether a man was a member of 

 a religious, political or social order began to carry less weight. 

 Some of the outstanding events of this age were the following: 

 rapid growth of commerce and travel, development of cities and 

 industry, and increase in wealth. Making its appearance, was a 

 new, rich and leisured urban class that devoted much of its energy 

 to the pursuit of worldly culture. Class distinctions began to 

 break down and a new, tireless curiosity directed toward secular 

 knowledge became evident. The temporal power of the chun h 

 was reduced and its spiritual authority was split by the rise ol 

 Protestantism. 



Exploration was the key word of the era. The boundaries ol 

 the known world were extended by great voyages of discovery 



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