Event Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2019
The Transmission of Knowledge: Examples from Classical Arabic Medicine
Ingrid Hehmeyer ,
Department of History,
Ryerson University
Oct 29, 2019
3:30 PM
Lawson Hall 2270C
In Greek humoralism , the cause of illness is explained as a disturbance of the natural balance of the four bodily humors. This theory formed the unchallenged basis of classical Arabic medicine. Using text examples from one of the most influential books in the history of medicine, Ibn S ī nā’s Canon of Medicine (completed in 1023), we will examine the theoretical framework of the Canon and how it is reflected in recommendations for medical treatment. The translators of the Greek medical texts faced serious difficulties and we will look into how they solved them. The talk will conclude with some medical scenes from Arabic manuscripts that show the challenges involved in the transmission of medical knowledge.
Presented by the Department of History