Health and Wellbeing in the Ancient World
Use literary and archaeological evidence to see how ancient empires approached health, wellbeing and societal issues with this Open University's online course.
Duration
6 weeks
Weekly study
3 hours
100% online
How it works
Unlimited subscription
Learn more
Established
1969
Location
Milton Keynes, UK
World ranking
Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020
Understand Greek and Roman approaches to health and well-being
What did being healthy in ancient Rome or Greece look like? How can we tell what well-being meant in ancient times?
This online course will help you investigate these questions, using both literary and archaeological evidence, to uncover details of real life in ancient societies.
We will divide the body up into organs and systems, using each to explore ancient theories on the structure and function of the human body.
We will discover what ancient societies thought about topics that we still wrestle with today – from the relationship between mind and body, to sexuality, ageing and gender.
What topics will you cover?
- What is health? Ancient and modern perspectives on health and disease
- Medicine, religion and magic
- Using online resources
- Vision: theories of sight, approaches to eye disease, including drugs and surgery
- Body modifications
- Diet and digestion
- Human waste: using evidence from toilets and sewers
- Conception and birth: theories and practices
- Ideal bodies and disabled bodies
- The health of the army: recruiting and treating soldiers
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