Nestorian Christian Contributions to Medicine in the Golden Age of Islam Under the Abassid Caliphs of Baghdad 786-1258 CE

The period under the Abassid Caliphs in Baghdad, often known as the Golden Age of Islam, saw great advances in science and medicine. This paper explores the often under-appreciated contribution of Nestorian Christians to medicine in this period. Many key translators of Greek medical texts and important court physicians were Nestorian Christians. The Nestorians ran hospitals and schools of medicine that were influential in the great medical advances during this era. The Golden Age of Islamic medicine was able to flourish, in part, because of the openness to cooperation with Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian scholars and practitioners. This paper focuses on the Nestorian contribution and argues that the Nestorians made significant contributions if four specific areas: the translation of Greek medical texts; the development of the hospital system; original medical research (particularly the anatomy of the eye, pharmacology and the discovery of the placebo effect); and the understanding of the practice of medicine as an ethical calling.

The information contained in this email, and any attachments to it, are for the use of the intended recipient and are confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not use, commercialise, disclose, read, forward, copy or retain any of the information. If you have received this email in error, please delete it and notify the sender by return email. The LCA does not warrant that any attachments are free from viruses or any other defects. You assume all liability for any loss, damage, or other consequences, which may arise from opening or using the attachments. Unless otherwise expressly stated by an authorized representative of the LCA any views, opinions and other information expressed in this message and any attachments are solely those of the sender and do not constitute formal views or opinions of the LCA.