Europe’s Neighbours: Byzantium and the Islamic World

Byzantium Eastern Roman Empire –476AD – 1453AD But giving way to growing Muslim Empire Orthodox Christian Kept Romano-Greek traditions alive for a thousand years –Including medicine –Libraries, Manuscripts –But little communication with Western Europe Natural treatments still used First true Hospitals built –Private – non-religious

Constantinople

Byzantine Architecture

Fall of Byzantium Very sophisticated Culture –Also very wealthy The Rise of Islam Crusades –Originally asked Pope in Rome for Help against Muslims –The Western Christians turned on rich city of Constantinople itself 1204 Fatally weakening Empire Ottoman Turks conquer Constantinople –1453

The Rise of Islam Prophet Mohammed –622AD Rapid spread of Islam –Common language of Arabic Centres of Islam –Mecca, Baghdad, Alexandria, Damascus, Jerusalem, Constantinople Cultural Bridge –Conquers / exposed to many traditions eg Greek, Indian, Christian –Islamic Scholars have access to all of these translated books in large Arabic libraries eg in Baghdad Arabic Translation of Hippocrates

Rapid Spread of Islam

The Koran –Hygiene very important Eg always Wash before prayers Even toothbrushes mentioned –Care for the Sick and Poor –Respects Learning/Education Translates books from all conquered/neighbouring nations –Dissections Forbidden

Medical Ideas in the Islamic World Very knowledgeable Doctors –Well Read –Classically influenced Galen, Hippocrates –Clinical Observation –Share ideas across a huge Arabic speaking world Ibn Sinna wrote a Million world textbook covering all aspects of Medicine –‘The Canon of Medicine’ »Use for the next 600 years But –Unwilling to criticise Texts Koran or Galen –Theory more important than practice

Important Doctors Arabic For Doctor –Hakeem = Wise Man –Many doctors were actually Nestorian Christians Al-Rhazes – identifies Smallpox and Measles Ibn an-Nafis –Identifies that blood moves through Lungs Al-Zahrawi –Surgeon Caesarean Sections Cataract Extractions –Use of Natural Anaesthetic Darnel

Islamic Alchemists Trying to make Gold They failed but they were accidentally the first Chemists –Developed Scientific Apparatus –Could identify, purify and separate chemicals Eg alcohol

Other Medical Ideas Mental Health Treated –Asylums, Musical treatments attempted Dental Health –Wooden False Teeth used Ophthalmology –Cataracts treated Infectious Diseases –Isolation and Quarantine used Hospitals –Built through charitable donations –Hygienically maintained Al-Mansour Hospital

Islamic Ideas come to Europe The Crusades –Illustrated how far Europe had fallen behind the united and well educated Islamic World –Source 1 page 74 for evidence –Islamic doctors were shocked at the poor medical knowledge and understanding of the Europeans –Many Crusaders prefer to use Islamic ideas that work rather than Christian ideas that don’t Spain –An Islamic Kingdom for hundreds of years To 1100AD –Slowly reconquered by Christians –Large library at Cordoba Translated books into Latin Many for the first time Some retranslated –Eg Galen and Hippocrates –Some Errors were noticed

The Alhambra, Spain