What 'Health' Actually Meant in Early Modern Sweden—and Why History Matters
Researchers analyzing early modern Swedish documents have discovered that 'health' was far more than a medical concept—it encompassed prosperity, politics, and religion. The finding challenges how historians and policymakers understand the evolution of health systems, suggesting today's definitions may also need reexamination.
Originaltitel: Meanings of Health in Early Modern Sweden
<p>This introduction outlines a conceptual framework for analysing the historically situated nature of 'health.' While previous historical research has elucidated conceptions of illness as changeable over time, it is our contention that the meaning of health is often taken for granted. We examine the semantic field of 'health' (Swe. halsa) and associated terms as they were used in early modern Sweden, showing health as a multifaceted concept with connotations to bodily and mental well-being, prosperity, politics, and religion alike. The individual chapters of the volume are situated in the broader account of early modern medicine, which highlights how a focus on a contextual understanding of health can inform the history of medicine and the broader account of early modern history.</p>