Aa100 Etma 06

To what extent does the transmission of Greek medical knowledge to the Islamic world exemplify the complex ways in which cultures interact?

Modern day medical understanding is shared globally through the convenience of the internet, media, medical journals and conventions. Historically the medical sector did not have the benefit this technology and each society developed its own medical practices, commonly reinventing the wheel on the basis of their own understanding. These difficulties were further compounded by the restrictions on global transport and linguistic differences that separated societies. Despite these difficulties, differing cultures were able to share and develop their understanding of medicine from as early as the seventh century. This astonishing journey originated from the Greek humoural theory devised by Hippocrates and developed by other notable practitioners such as Galen of Pergamum, to the Islamic community. This journey overcame many hurdles including the development of the Islamic vocabulary but eventually proved to be beneficial to a wider audience through the systemisation of the theory into organised publications. This essay will explain the elements of this journey and discuss how the wider transmission of these ideas exemplify cross cultural interaction.

The Greek understanding of medicine was developed between the fifth century BCE and the third century CE by a number of practitioners, most notably Hippocrates. These works were expanded and revised many times, the most important works by Galen Pergamum, a physician to the emperor of Rome. The theory devised was based on the study of four humours or fluids, yellow bile, blood, black bile and phlegm. This theory was based on reasoning and observation, which can be demonstrated by considering when somebody is cut. If you cut your body then a fluid, namely blood flows from it. A healthy body was one in which all of the humours were in balance with each other, this was...