Historicizing past epidemics in times of paleogenomics

Authors

Keywords:

history of medicine; history of disease; social constructivism; retrospective diagnosis; anacronism; presentism; post-relativism; paleogenomics

Abstract

Based on his attention to the history of disease for more than four decades, the author critically examines social constructivism, its projection in medical historiography and the significance of this theoretical perspective for his research work. At the same time, he reflects in a post-relativist perspective on the current state of this field of study and the growing impact of palaeogenomics in the study of the organic remains of the past to understand the conditions of life, health and disease of prehistoric or historical human populations.

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Published

2025-12-15

Issue

Vol. 18 (2025)

Section

Reflections on the discipline

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