Assembling the Tropics: Science and Medicine in Portugal's Empire, 1450-1700

The tropics are characterized by their prodigious nature and debilitating illness, but Hugh Cagle's book challenges conventional accounts of the Scientific Revolution and shows how the proliferation of colonial approaches to medicine and natural history led to the assemblage of the tropics as a single, coherent, and internally consistent global region.

Format: Hardback
Length: 382 pages
Publication date: 06 September 2018
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The tropics, a region encompassing popular fiction and modern biomedicine, are characterized by two fundamental features: a prodigious nature and debilitating illness. However, this was not always the case. In this captivating and imaginative study, Hugh Cagle explores how this vision emerged. Along the way, he challenges conventional accounts of the Scientific Revolution. The history of the tropics is the story of science in Europe's first global empire. Beginning in the late fifteenth century, Portugal established colonies spanning from sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia and South America, enabling the earliest comparisons of nature and disease across the tropical world. Assembling the Tropics delves into how the proliferation of colonial approaches to medicine and natural history led to the assemblage of the tropics as a cohesive and internally consistent global region. This is a tale about how places acquire medical significance, how nature and disease become objects of scientific inquiry, and what is at stake when this occurs.

The late fifteenth century marked the beginning of Portugal's establishment of colonies across a vast expanse, extending from sub-Saharan Africa to Southeast Asia and South America. This geographical expansion facilitated the earliest comparative examinations of nature and disease within the tropical realm. The colonies served as hubs for scientific inquiry, where researchers and physicians gathered data and observed the diverse ecosystems and diseases that flourished in these regions.

One of the significant contributions of the Scientific Revolution was the development of a systematic approach to studying nature. This shift involved categorizing and organizing knowledge based on empirical observations and logical reasoning. The tropics, with their rich biodiversity and complex ecosystems, provided an ideal setting for this scientific exploration.

As researchers delved deeper into the study of the tropics, they began to observe patterns and relationships between nature and disease. They recognized that certain environmental factors, such as climate, humidity, and soil composition, could influence the prevalence and severity of certain diseases. They also studied the interactions between different species and their impact on disease transmission.

The colonial approach to medicine in the tropics was characterized by a combination of European medical knowledge and local practices and beliefs. Physicians often worked alongside indigenous healers and practitioners, learning from their knowledge and incorporating it into their own practices. This collaboration led to the development of new treatments and therapies that were tailored to the specific needs of the tropical population.

One of the notable achievements of the colonial era was the establishment of botanical gardens and museums. These institutions served as repositories for the collection and study of plant specimens, which were essential for the development of new medicines and treatments. The tropical regions were rich in medicinal plants, and the knowledge gained from these collections helped to shape the field of pharmacology.

However, the colonial era also brought with it challenges and controversies. The exploitation of natural resources, including the extraction of precious metals and the hunting of wildlife, led to environmental degradation and the displacement of indigenous communities. The introduction of new diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis, also had devastating consequences for the local populations.

Despite these challenges, the study of the tropics continued to thrive. The development of new technologies, such as the microscope and the telescope, allowed researchers to observe and study the intricate details of nature and disease at a previously unseen level. This led to the discovery of new diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and Ebola, and the development of new treatments and vaccines.

In conclusion, the history of the tropics is a story of science in Europe's first global empire. Beginning in the late fifteenth century, Portugal's colonial expansion enabled the earliest comparisons of nature and disease across the tropical world. The proliferation of colonial approaches to medicine and natural history led to the assemblage of the tropics as a cohesive and internally consistent global region. The study of the tropics has played a crucial role in shaping our understanding of nature, disease, and the interconnectedness of the world. While the colonial era brought with it challenges and controversies, it also led to significant advancements in science and medicine. Today, the tropics continue to be a source of fascination and discovery, with researchers and scientists working to unravel the mysteries of this unique and fascinating region.

Weight: 678g
Dimension: 230 x 156 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781107196636