Islamic Medieval Medicine (AQA GCSE History)

Revision Note

Zoe Wade

Written by: Zoe Wade

Reviewed by: Natasha Smith

How advanced was Islamic medical knowledge to English medical knowledge in Medieval times? - Timeline & Summary

Timeline

Islamic medical knowledge in Medieval times was far more advanced than English medical knowledge.

Islamic physicians like Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Al-Razi (Rhazes), and Ibn al-Nafis made significant discoveries that shaped medicine for centuries. Ibn Sina wrote a famous book called The Canon of Medicine, which was used in European medical schools for hundreds of years. Al-Razi was another great physician who wrote about diseases like smallpox and measles, explaining how to tell them apart for the first time. Ibn al-Nafis, meanwhile, was the first to correctly describe how blood moves from the heart to the lungs. All these discoveries made Baghdad a centre of medical knowledge in Medieval times.

In contrast, English medical knowledge in the Medieval period was limited. English physicians mainly followed outdated ideas, like the Theory of the Four Humours from Hippocrates and Galen, without questioning them. While the Islamic world encouraged learning and experimentation, English medicine was focused on supernatural explanations, like disease being a punishment from God. Islamic hospitals, called bimaristans, were advanced for their time, offering treatments and even surgeries. In England, care was more about prayer and basic comfort. Whilst some Islamic medical knowledge spread to England, the Church heavily controlled what could and could not be taught.

Islamic ideas about illness

Similarities with Medieval England

  • The Islamic world listened to the theories about disease written by Ancient philosophers

    • In Baghdad, scholars translated thousands of Ancient Greek manuscripts

    • Islamic medical practice valued the work of Hippocrates and Galen

  • Muslims also believed in the healing power of their God, Allah

    • Many Muslims prayed to Allah for healing if they were ill

  • Both Muslims in the Islamic world and Christians in England made charitable donations to create hospitals

Differences with Medieval England

  • Muslims teach that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:

"Allah has sent down a cure for every disease"

  • This encouraged Muslims in the Medieval period to find cures for disease, rather than simply accepting old theories

  • Islam encouraged scientists to discover the healing properties of certain substances, such as senna

  • The Qur’an teaches Muslims to care for the sick. Islamic hospitals (bimaristans):

    • Did not turn away 'undesirable' patients like those with mental illnesses

    • Attempted to cure the patient's disease

Key Islamic physicians

  • In Medieval times, there were three key thinkers who progressed Islamic medicine:

    • Al-Razi (Rhazes)

    • Ibn Sina (Avicenna)

    • Ibn al-Nafis

Examiner Tips and Tricks

We have provided you with both the Arabic and the Latin names of these key Islamic physicians. Writing either the Arabic or the Latin version is acceptable in your AQA Health and the People exam.

Al-Razi (Rhazes)

  • Al-Razi was a senior physician in a hospital in Baghdad

  • His key contributions to medicine were:

    • noticing that smallpox and measles were two separate diseases

    • his book, Doubts about Galen, criticised some of Galen's findings

      • In the Renaissance, Vesalius read this book which shaped his research into anatomy

    • writing over 150 books which were translated into various languages

Ibn Sina (Avicenna)

  • Ibn Sina became a physician at 16 years old

    • He cured the Sultan of Bukhara when no other court physician could

  • His key contribution to medicine was:

    • Writing The Canon of Medicine (1025)

      • This was an encyclopaedia of medical knowledge from the Ancient and Islamic worlds

      • It explored ideas about anatomy

      • It listed 760 substances and their medical benefits

      • It became a medical textbook for European physicians until the 17th century

Ibn al-Nafis

  • Al-Nafis was an Arab physician in the thirteenth century

  • His key contribution to medicine was:

    • discovering that blood circulated the body via the lungs

      • This disproved Galen's theory that the liver created all the blood in the body

  • Al-Nafis' theory was ignored, especially in England, because:

    • Islam and Christianity disapproved of human dissection

    • Galen's theory was so widely believed in England

      • Al-Nafis' discovery about the circulatory system was not taught and was unknown to all physicians in England

Examiner Tips and Tricks

A question could ask you to explain the significance of Islamic medicine on the understanding of disease.

Your answers could be written in PEE paragraphs: 

  • P- make a point about the question

  • E- include knowledge to support the point you have made

    • Focused on Islamic medicine, which is the focus of the question 

    • Show knowledge to demonstrate significance

  • E- explain the question

    • Focus on how Islamic medicine impacted the understanding of disease

    • Include a complex explanation showing your understanding of significance

To achieve full marks, you need to repeat this twice 

Our exam skills pages provide more help and guidance on the significance question

Influence of Islamic Medicine on England

  • Islamic medical theories began to spread in Europe by the 11th century

IMAGE

A map showing the spread of Islamic knowledge throughout Europe

Why did Islamic medicine have a limited impact on England?

  • Christianity and Islam were at war with each other during the Crusades

    • Some people were sceptical of Islamic ideas

  • The Church actively blocked some Islamic theories

    • Physicians like al-Nafis actively challenged the Church's teachings

Examiner Tips and Tricks

An exam question could ask you to discuss the similarities between English medicine and Islamic medicine in the Medieval period. Students often find comparing these quite challenging.

Similarities you could identify are:

  • using the Canon of Medicine

  • treating illnesses with herbal remedies

  • a belief in supernatural treatments such as prayer

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Zoe Wade

Author: Zoe Wade

Expertise: History

Zoe has worked in education for 10 years as a teaching assistant and a teacher. This has given her an in-depth perspective on how to support all learners to achieve to the best of their ability. She has been the Lead of Key Stage 4 History, showing her expertise in the Edexcel GCSE syllabus and how best to revise. Ever since she was a child, Zoe has been passionate about history. She believes now, more than ever, the study of history is vital to explaining the ever-changing world around us. Zoe’s focus is to create accessible content that breaks down key historical concepts and themes to achieve GCSE success.

Natasha Smith

Author: Natasha Smith

Expertise: History Content Creator

After graduating with a degree in history, Natasha gained her PGCE at Keele University. With more than 10 years of teaching experience, Natasha taught history at both GCSE and A Level. Natasha's specialism is modern world history. As an educator, Natasha channels this passion into her work, aiming to instil in students the same love for history that has fuelled her own curiosity.