The Golden Age of Islam - Medieval History 7 2025: Medicine

Pharmacies during the Golden Age of Islam were as common as the presence of contemporary CVS drugstores. By the 9^th century government-inspected pharmacies were a common site in Baghdad markets.

Ideas for your Project:

• Choose up to four physician/pharmacists from the list below and describe their specific contributions to medicine either by their written work and/or the creation of drugs or procedures to cure various ailments. 1. Sabur ibn Sahl 2. Al-Razi 3. Ibn Sina 4. Al Kindi 5. Al Zahrawi 6. Abu al Mansur Muwaffaq 7. Malaga Muslim, Ibn al-Baytar 
• Write about how European doctors/pharmacists benefited from the treatises, drugs, and treatments that Muslims made during the Golden Age of Islam.

Abu al-Qasim al Zahrawi (also known as Abulcasis) is considered the “Father of Modern Surgery.” What book did he author?

Ideas for your Project:

• Describe and provide the use of several surgical instruments, medical procedures that he invented.
• Research the medical discoveries of Al-Razi with suture material, Ibn Sina with cancer, and/or Ibn al-Quff with bladder conditions.
• What medieval Muslim discoveries and procedures are still part of modern medical practice?

Centuries before Dr. William Harvey proved how blood circulated in 1628, Ibn-Al Nafis discovered a similar process in the 13^th century.

Ideas for your Project:

• Research the important events, achievements in the life of Ibn-Al-Nafis.
• Find historical evidence that shows Al-Nafi’s discovery of blood circulation pre-dated that of William Harvey’s.

Vaccination was a major, medical breakthrough. It is also referred to as inoculation. 

Ideas for your Project:

• Research the role Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762) played in introducing the smallpox vaccination from Turkey to England.
• Explain why the discovery of vaccination has been attributed to Edward Jenner rather than the Turks. What primary source can you find that confirms the Turks’ discovery?
• Explain the process by which the Turks inoculated their children against the dreaded disease, smallpox.