What part did the Golden Age had in improving Health Care? - Presentation
History Resource Description
The early Islamic civilisation, often referred to as the Golden Age, was a period of remarkable advancements in various fields, including healthcare. During this era, significant progress was made in medical science, with Muslim doctors and scholars building upon and accelerating the growth of knowledge inherited from previous cultures. The translation of ancient manuscripts into Arabic at the 'House of Wisdom' in Baghdad was a pivotal moment in the 8th century, allowing scholars to access and expand upon the medical texts of antiquity. This period saw the birth of notable medical figures such as Al-Razi and Al-Zahrawi, who authored important medical books and surgical treatises that were later translated into Greek and Latin, influencing medical practice beyond the Islamic world.
Not only did the Golden Age witness the birth of early hospitals, but it also saw the establishment of Muslim schools of medicine, where students learned from experienced doctors in a manner similar to modern medical training. These institutions, often connected to mosques, provided comprehensive medical education and were integrated with hospitals in cities like Cairo, Harran, and Baghdad. The Islamic approach to medicine, which viewed disease as a challenge to overcome rather than divine punishment, led to the establishment of medical centres equipped with wards for different diseases, outpatient clinics, recovery wards, and pharmacies. These centres were the precursors to the modern hospital and played a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge, including pioneering work on blood circulation by Ibn Al-Nafis, which predated Western discoveries by centuries.