Muslim Medical Advances of the Middle Ages

April Hughes

The Muslim World to Tamerlane

Dr. Egger

17 November 2006
Thesis:

During the Middle Ages Muslim scholars and scientists made many advancements

in the medical field that were later transferred and adopted into to European society

through Spain.
 Outline:

Pg 1

I. Introduction

A. Thesis
B. Generalization of the Middle Ages in European and Arabic lands
C. Introduction of key Islamic physicians of the Middle Ages
D. Islam as the catalyst for the spread of Islamic medicine to Spain

II. The Term “Islamic Medicine”

A. “Islamic” versus “Arabic” medicine: which is better and why

B. Islamic physicians and their duty to God
C. Although the physicians were not Arabic, they were united under
Islam

Pg 2

III. Greek Foundations for Islamic Medicine

A. Galen was the greatest Greek influence

B. Hippocrates also impacted much of Islamic medical thought
C. Islamic expansion of Greek works through their own studies

Pg 2-3

IV. Medical Developments Under the Umayyad and Abassid Caliphates

A. Greek translation under the Umayyads

B. Greatest amount of Islamic medical work completed under the
Abassids
C. Signs of progress and the making of paper

Pg 3-4

V. Muslim Medical Advances as Seen in the Life of Ibn Ishaq

A. Brief biography of the scholar

B. His impact in the translation of Greek works
C. The impact of his own works
Pg 4

V. Muslim Medical Advances as Seen in the Life of ar-Razi

A. His studies and works in Islamic medicine

B. His most famous work- de Pestilentia

Pg 5

VI. Muslim Medical Advances as Seen in the Life of Ibn Zahrawi

A. His most important contributions to Islamic medicine- surgery

B. Integration of Surgery as a legitimate field of Islamic medicine

Pg 5-6

VII. Muslim Medical Advances as Seen in the Life of Ibn Sina

A. Brief biography
B. His greatest work: Qanun fi al-tibb
C. Ibn Sina: Islamic physician who uses Persian the language

Pg 6- 7

VIII. The Islamic Hospital

A. The first hospital

B. Fundamental qualities of Islamic hospitals
C. Audid Hospital

Pg 7-8

IX. The Transfer of Knowledge

A. European and Islamic intellectual activity during the middle ages
B. Spain and the transplantation of Islam through the Umayyad Caliphate
C. Spread of Islamic medicine through Spainish cities

Pg 8

X. Conclusion

A. Ibn Sina’s influence on European medical thought

B. Forgotten influences
C. Islamic culture as a catalyst for the transmission of medical knowledge