The Bloody and Unnecessarily Difficult History of Surgery

Welcome back, dear one! This week, we’re scrubbing in and diving scalpels-first into the history of surgery. From ancient skull drilling to the OG rhinoplasty (nose job, anyone?), this episode explores the bizarre, bloody, and brilliant evolution of ancient surgical techniques. Spoiler: it’s not all medieval barber surgeons and questionable hygiene. What you’ll learn in this episode: 📚How Neolithic humans invented brain surgery (and somehow survived!). 📚Why ancient Egyptian surgeons were ahead of their time (magic spells optional). 📚The shocking origin story of India’s first nose job—a bloody masterpiece. 📚How one Roman hotshot (we’re looking at you, Galen) stalled surgical progress for 1,000 years. 📚Quirky, gross, and oh-so-fascinating, this episode unpacks the twists and turns of medieval medicine and beyond. Whether you’re a history buff or just morbidly curious, you won’t want to miss this. 🎧 Hit play now, and don’t forget to leave a review! What did you think of this episode? Your feedback keeps us slicing into history’s quirkiest corners. ⭐⭐Calm History ⭐⭐ Try the new podcast, Calm History: www.calmhistory.com TrovaTrip Alert! Oh hey, history buffs! Want to nerd out with me in person? Join me on a dreamy trip to Japan (hello matcha, temples, and Kyoto sunsets!) from August 24–30, 2025. Spots are limited, and early birds get a discount—don’t sleep on it! What’s the Tea with the Community Census? Your voice matters! Fill out the For the Love of History 2025 Community Census and tell me what you want more of (or less of!) in upcoming episodes. Plus, you’ll get the chance to win a free t-shirt or one of my favorite books. Sweet deal, right? 🤩App Info🤩 ______________________________________ Want more For the Love of History? Patreon Instagram Website TikTok Spotify Merch Store Book Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices