The exact sciences and medicine

uring the 14th century, interest in mathematics, astronomy, engineering and medicine became especially lively. The ground had already been prepared since the 13th century by the writings of Nikephoros Blemmydes, Maximos Planoudes and George Pachymeres on mathematics and physics, a work that was carried on in the 14th century by a great many scholars. Manuel Moschopoulos, Nicholas Rabdas and John Pediasimos wrote mathematical treatises, Barlaam de Seminara wrote treatises on logistics, and the physicians Gregory Chioniades and George Chrysokokkes showed an interest in Persian mathematics and astronomy. Isaac Argyros, Theodore Meliteniotes, Theodore Metochites, Nikephoros Choumnos and Nikephoros Gregoras also wrote treatises on astronomy. Joseph Rhakendytes produced the first great "encyclopaedia" in Byzantium, the Synopsis en Epitome, which synoptically presents the essential elements of each science. Finally, the medical treatises that have survived are of great interest, because of what they tell us concerning the diseases that afflicted the people during that period. Nikephoros Blemmydes wrote about blood testing and about thirteen different urine types, Nicholas Myrepsos compiled a list of 2,656 pharmaceutical remedies and poison antidotes. John Zacharias Aktouarios wrote a treatise entitled A Therapeutic Method and Demetrios Pepagomenos wrote an extensive work on gout, a disease that the Byzantines inherited from the Romans and of which they never succeeded in ridding themselves.. Theodore Prodromos was so impressed by the manifestations of variola (smallpox) that he described them in his letters. Finally, Aristeides Ailios constitutes the prototpye not only of a fine orator but also of a hypochondriac, since his letters deal at length with various illnesses and their symptoms, a theme which provided the subject for several letters of Gregory of Cyprus and John Chortasmenos as well.