I was doing some research for my The Old Guard - Ladyhawke AU fanfic and I remembered this:
Schola Medica Salernitana
It is the oldest and most famous medical institution in the Western world.
Its origins are very ancient, according to legend it was founded by a Jew, a Greek, an Arab and a Salernitano.
The role of monks of the San Benedetto abbey was important in the Schola, the Benedictine rule provided for assistance to the sick, to pilgrims, to wounded warriors.
In the XI century Constantine the African had come to Selerno; born in Carthage, he had visited North Africa and the Middle East, learning Arabic culture, language, science.
He wanted to found a school in Carthage but was threatened and fled to Salerno. Here he met Bishop Alfano I, converted to Catholicism, and translated for him the texts of classical medicine which had not been preserved in the original language but had been translated into Arabic.
Furthermore, the Schola was the first European institution in which women had the same rights as men. They could become students and teachers. The most important was Trotula da Ruggero, who lived in the XI century.
A medical book entirely dedicated to women, women’s diseases, etc. is attributed to her (although it is not certain). Another text dedicated to diseases before, during and after childbirth was written by her.
The most famous work of the School is the Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum:
“If doctors are missing, these three things are for you doctors: the happy soul, the quiet and the moderate diet …”
People from all over Europe came here to become students or to get treated.
Ok, my personal headcanon: Nicolò attended the Schola Medica Salernitana (it was also run by religious) and then continued to study medicine over the centuries to update his studies!
