INTRODUCTION

The natural context of the Rational and Learned Doctor was scholastic medicine. The term ‘scholastic’ is taken here in a simple sense to mean that which relates to the schools. The schools were the incorporated studia generalia, and within them, the incorporated medical faculty. Scholastic medicine flourished most vigorously from the beginnings of the faculties in the late thirteenth century to the middle of the fourteenth century, when the Black Death arrived. In terms of personalities, it spanned the period from the floreat of Taddeo Alderotti to the death of Gentile da Foligno. This was the high point in the history of rational and learned doctors: their reputation was growing, their numbers were small and they were patronised by popes and monarchs. Instead of breaking down the period into smaller fragments, this chapter presents the story of the scholastic doctor from entry into the studium to his practice of a potentially lucrative trade.

BECOMING A RATIONAL AND LEARNED DOCTOR

Where to go

It was known in the twelfth century that Salerno and Montpellier were good places to go to learn how to be a doctor. Bologna, too; and in the north, the size of the city of Paris gave many opportunities for medical practice, and so was attractive to medical teachers. Indeed, until the middle of the fourteenth century, Bologna, Paris and Montpellier had a virtual monopoly of the teaching of medicine.