Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th-century German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer, and visionary. Born in 1098, she is known for her contributions to music, theology, and natural history. Hildegard founded the Rupertsberg Abbey and was recognized for her mystical visions, which she documented in several works, including "Scivias." In addition to her spiritual writings, Hildegard composed over 70 pieces of music, making her one of the earliest known female composers. Her holistic approach to health and medicine, outlined in texts like "Physica," emphasized the connection between the body and spirit, influencing both religious and scientific thought in her time.