Science Books in Medieval Portuguese Libraries

Abstract

This study seeks to analyse the existence and circulation of the scientific book in medieval Portugal. The historical framework of the development of the artes liberals in the country is sketched, while highlighting the prominence of the areas of assistance and health which, to some extent, justify the outstanding status of medicine without overlooking other areas of knowledge, such as Astronomy and Mathematics, within the Portuguese scientific context of those centuries. Lastly, we provide an inventory including both medieval scientific manuscripts and extant references to them in the Portuguese bibliographic heritage.