PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢
Michael Pearson's article examines the relationships between Portuguese and Indian medical systems in the early modern period, arguing that the interaction did not produce a uniform transfer of knowledge: in some domains, commonality and the possibility of mutual exchange are observed; in others, ea...
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| Published in: | Review of Culture |
|---|---|
| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Articles |
| Published: |
Instituto Cultural de Macau
October 2006
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40020/3740 |
| _version_ | 1877196270962999296 |
|---|---|
| author | Michael Pearson |
| author_autocomplete | Michael Pearson |
| author_browse | Michael Pearson |
| author_facet | Michael Pearson Michael Pearson |
| author_sort | Michael Pearson |
| container_title | Review of Culture |
| container_title_str | Review of Culture |
| container_volume | 20 |
| container_volume_str | 20 |
| description | Michael Pearson's article examines the relationships between Portuguese and Indian medical systems in the early modern period, arguing that the interaction did not produce a uniform transfer of knowledge: in some domains, commonality and the possibility of mutual exchange are observed; in others, early signs of European advantage emerge, though initially limited. The methodology consists of a historical and comparative reconstruction of the Eurasian medical environment before the sixteenth century, followed by a progressive focus on India, and in particular on Goa, assessing the main health risks and associated healing practices. Pearson contrasts the epidemiological profile of Portugal and Europe—marked by plague, smallpox, and syphilis, in addition to endemic diseases and nutritional fragilities—with European perceptions and classifications of illnesses considered “specific” to certain regions, including interpretations of differences between Indian and European pathologies. He concludes that, although neither Europe, nor the Muslim world, nor India held a general medical “superiority” at that time, the identification of geographically localized diseases and the persistent circulation of ideas and practices paved the way for European advantage to expand over the following centuries. This process would culminate, in the nineteenth century, in the victory of Western medicine over Asian medical knowledge and practices. |
| first_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:54Z |
| format | Articles |
| genre | Articles |
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| hierarchy_parent_title | Review of Culture |
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| issn | 1682-1106 |
| last_indexed | 2026-09-11T02:56:54Z |
| latest_content_date | 2026-09-11T02:56:54Z |
| publishDate | October 2006 |
| publishDateRange | 2006 |
| publishDateSort | 2006 |
| publishPlace | Macau |
| publisher | Instituto Cultural de Macau |
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| spelling | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 Michael Pearson's article examines the relationships between Portuguese and Indian medical systems in the early modern period, arguing that the interaction did not produce a uniform transfer of knowledge: in some domains, commonality and the possibility of mutual exchange are observed; in others, early signs of European advantage emerge, though initially limited. The methodology consists of a historical and comparative reconstruction of the Eurasian medical environment before the sixteenth century, followed by a progressive focus on India, and in particular on Goa, assessing the main health risks and associated healing practices. Pearson contrasts the epidemiological profile of Portugal and Europe—marked by plague, smallpox, and syphilis, in addition to endemic diseases and nutritional fragilities—with European perceptions and classifications of illnesses considered “specific” to certain regions, including interpretations of differences between Indian and European pathologies. He concludes that, although neither Europe, nor the Muslim world, nor India held a general medical “superiority” at that time, the identification of geographically localized diseases and the persistent circulation of ideas and practices paved the way for European advantage to expand over the following centuries. This process would culminate, in the nineteenth century, in the victory of Western medicine over Asian medical knowledge and practices. Instituto Cultural de Macau Macau Review of Culture Articles October 2006 Michael Pearson |
| spellingShingle | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 Michael Pearson |
| title | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 |
| title_autocomplete | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 |
| title_full | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 |
| title_fullStr | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 |
| title_full_unstemmed | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 |
| title_short | PORTUGUESE AND INDIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS. COMMONALITY AND SUPERIORITY IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 |
| title_sort | portuguese and indian medical systems. commonality and superiority in the early modern period近世葡萄牙和印度醫療系統的共通點及優勢 |
| url | https://www.icm.gov.mo/rc/viewer/pdfViewerParts/40020/3740 |
| zotero_collection_key | 76L3BRGH |