Islamic influence on medicine

How much medicinal development was there in Islamic kingdoms?

Some significant breakthroughs, so more than Western Europe

Who were key people in Islamic medicine?

Al-Razi and Ibn-Sina

How was medical knowledge spread from Islamic kingdoms to Europe?

Through the Crusades partially (as many European soldiers travelled there to seize control of Jerusalem)

Why did Muslims care for the sick?

The Quran tells them that they have a duty to care for the ill and give money to charity (some of this was used to build and run hospitals)

Did Islam encourage or discourage doctors to explore medicine?

Encouraged them to develop new ideas and treatments

How significant was Al-Razi?

He planned the building of a new hospital, so built it in the cleanest part of the city of Baghdad (which he determined by handing pieces of meat in different areas and choosing the area that took longest to rot. He also worked out the difference between smallpox and measles, and was a student of Galen so supported observation and seeking natural causes, however he also encouraged his students to criticise their teachers and improve on their work. He taught his ideas in universities across Europe through his over 200 books that he published!

How significant was Ibn-Sina?

He was a doctor and astronomer who wrote many books such as the Canon of Medicine (which explained ideas about anatomy and human development), and also encouraged seeking natural treatments