Introduction
Humans have been using herbs and wild sources for pleasure, food, and healing since paleolithic times. During the Middle Ages, herbs were still "highly valued plants that were used not only as flavorings and fragrances but also as health and beauty aids." Books about herbs were called herbals. Herbals popular throughout Europe and the Byzantine and Arab worlds.
Western European herbals were written mostly in Latin and were organized in various ways--alphabetically or grouped by similarities or uses. Herbals usually included descriptions or illustrations of the plant, its habitat, alternate names, information about its uses, and preparation instructions. Although all European herbals were primarily concerned with plants, some herbals also included discussions about mineral and animal products, delved into additional home management, or offered additional coverage areas. Illustrations could vary from a simple sketch to elaborate paintings.
"Most herbals were written in prose, but some were in poetry. Many listed the plants in alphabetical order according to their common Latin name. Some herbals had indexes that listed the plants under specific ailments, which made the medical information easier to find. Herbals were used and studied more in monasteries than in universities. Although herbals were compiled throughout the medieval period, their popularity declined toward the end of the Middle Ages. The invention of printing, however, stimulated renewed interest in herbals" (Jordan, 1996).
This site will introduce you to a sampling of early herbals from Britain during the Middle Ages. It covers both vernacular incunabula in addition to printed texts.
Western European herbals were written mostly in Latin and were organized in various ways--alphabetically or grouped by similarities or uses. Herbals usually included descriptions or illustrations of the plant, its habitat, alternate names, information about its uses, and preparation instructions. Although all European herbals were primarily concerned with plants, some herbals also included discussions about mineral and animal products, delved into additional home management, or offered additional coverage areas. Illustrations could vary from a simple sketch to elaborate paintings.
"Most herbals were written in prose, but some were in poetry. Many listed the plants in alphabetical order according to their common Latin name. Some herbals had indexes that listed the plants under specific ailments, which made the medical information easier to find. Herbals were used and studied more in monasteries than in universities. Although herbals were compiled throughout the medieval period, their popularity declined toward the end of the Middle Ages. The invention of printing, however, stimulated renewed interest in herbals" (Jordan, 1996).
This site will introduce you to a sampling of early herbals from Britain during the Middle Ages. It covers both vernacular incunabula in addition to printed texts.
References
Jordan, W. C. (Ed.). (1996). Herbs and Herbals. The Middle Ages: An Encyclopedia for Students. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
