Europe’s Neighbours: Byzantium and the Islamic World

1. Europe’s Neighbours:Byzantium and the Islamic World

3. 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

4. Constantinople

5. Byzantine Architecture

6. 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

7. 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

8. Rapid Spread of Islam

9. The Koran • 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. IslamicAlchemists • Trying to make Gold • They failed but they were accidentally the first Chemists • Developed Scientific Apparatus • Could identify, purify and separate chemicals • Eg alcohol

13. 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

14. 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

15. The Alhambra, Spain