Abstract

Manuscripts and early prints are the two most important instruments of tradition of knowledge in the Middle Ages and in the beginning of modern times. Their history is connected with the history of learning, onwards from antiquity. The fact that neither in antiquity nor in the early Middle Ages medicine had been strictly a part of the liberal arts is reflected by the bad situation of manuscript tradition of medical texts during this period. Up from the beginning of university studies in the end of the 11th century this situation had completely been changed. The new composite manuscripts of the universities reflect the new curricula of the universities, also in medicine. The first prints from the 15th century onwards mostly continue this manuscript tradition of knowledge of the universities. Only new literary forms, as for instance pamphlets, show new methods of tradition and especially of popularizing of knowledge beyond the universities.