Original scientific paper
ARCHIVES OF DUBROVNIK AS SOURCE FOR HEALTH CULTURE OF MEDIEVAL SERBIA
Vera Gavrilović
Abstract
The Archives of Dubrovnik are in fact the archives of the Republic
of Dubrovnik, that is of the City of Dubrovnik and of its surrounding
area. Thanks to its geographic position, but also to complex
political circumstances, Dubrovnik had an international character because
of its close relations with other countries of the Balkan peninsula,
Mediterranean and Mid-European countries. The year 1278 is
considered to be the year of its foundation, when the notary service
was incorporated into the state administration services.
The Republic of Dubrovnik existed for 450 years. It was governed
by a Prince who was elected by the members of the High Council
(Cons. Maioris). The prince presided over the High Council and the
Senate - Rogatory Council (Cons. Rogatorum). There was also the
Low Council (Cons. Minoris) which, having the executive power, had
the character of a cabinet.
The government of Dubrovnik granted Charts of Friendship and
Charts of Trade to foreign rulers. The first Chart in Latin was given
to the Serbian Great 1rspan Nemanja on January 27, 1186. Several
rulers of the Nemanjic dynasty received it as well.
Dubrovnik developed close medical relations with medieval Serbia
whose medicinal science drew its origins from the Byzantine Empire,
but was also under the influence of western medicine through
Dubrovnik and Kotor. At the time, Kotor was a part of the Republic worked in Serbia were Italians from Fermo, Ossimo, Barletta,
Bologna, Rome, Florence, Feltra, Ancona, Venice, Verona, Messina,
Milan, Trano, Plombino and Naples.
The archives of Dubrovnik include materials of an exceptional interest
for the history of Serbia and of Serbian people. Humanist historians
of the ancient Dubrovnik recorded the relations between
Dubrovnik and medieval Serbian rulers, making reference to their traditions,
but also to numerous documents kept in the Archives of their
Republic.
Greatly thanks to the Dubrovnik archives, Serbian historians were
given the opportunity to , make a substantial progress in reconstructing
the life of Serbian people in the past. This knowledge was furthered
thanks to advancements in scientific methods and the systematic
study ol Dubrovnik's archives which was carried out by a number
of zealous researchers.
Keywords
history of medicine; 1Zth -15th century; health culture; medieval Serbia; Dubrovnik; archives
Hrčak ID:
102597
URI
Publication date:
15.6.2004.
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