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1 results

  • Chapter 13 - Healing Gifts

  • from Part II - The Borders of Pharmacology
  • Edited by Petros Bouras-Vallianatos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dionysios Stathakopoulos, University of Cyprus
  • Book:
    Drugs in the Medieval Mediterranean
    Published online:
    19 October 2023
    Print publication:
    02 November 2023, pp 388-415

  • Summary

    This chapter examines the medieval Greek and Arabic sources for the movement of medical substances between the Byzantine and Islamic worlds in the period from the ninth to the twelfth centuries. Although commerce was the most common means employed in the movement of materia medica, and the part played by tribute taking and looting was not negligible, the role of diplomatic gift exchange cannot be ignored. A relatively wide range of drugs were exchanged, ranging from theriac and a stone against dropsy to spices and perfumes. Moreover, this chapter examines the peculiar role of drugs as gifts in diplomatic communication compared to more typical diplomatic gifts such as expensive textiles and luxurious objects. Not suited to acting as objects of display, materia medica seemed to convey a personal message of care, creating mutual ties between the sender and the recipient.