This course surveys the importance of smell as a form of knowledge and source of history, and explores the use of aromatics in medicine, food, ritual, and personal fragrance, along with their role as a global commodity in East Asia and beyond. Students will read a variety of medieval and early modern texts about aromatics as well as more recent studies on olfaction.
This course surveys the importance of smell as a form of knowledge and source of history, and explores the use of aromatics in medicine, food, ritual, and personal fragrance, along with their role as a global commodity in East Asia and beyond. Students will read a variety of medieval and early modern texts about aromatics as well as more recent studies on olfaction.
