Infectious Ideas

Discover the groundbreaking work of Justin K. Stearns in Infectious Ideas, published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2011. This compelling hardback explores the intricate concepts of contagion as understood in the premodern Mediterranean world, drawing on a rich tapestry of legal, theological, historical, and medical texts in Arabic, Medieval Castilian, and Latin. With 304 pages of insightful analysis, Stearns provides a comparative discussion that bridges the divide between Christian and Muslim perspectives on communicable diseases. Dive into the historical context of epidemics such as leprosy and the plague, and understand how these infectious ideas shaped societies across cultures. Ideal for scholars and enthusiasts of history, medicine, and epidemiology, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of disease and its impact on human civilization.