Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmology
Europe in the Middle Ages had descended into a dark period, and none more so than in the field of medicine. The rich heritage of the pagan Greeks had largely been ignored or forgotten by medieval Europe, and instead it was the early Arabist world that embraced and developed the Hellenistic medical t...
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2012-01-01
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Online Access: | http://www.ojoonline.org/article.asp?issn=0974-620X;year=2012;volume=5;issue=2;spage=75;epage=78;aulast=Haq |
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doaj-0975e1e2e43f44979b3be3de0e8195ff2020-11-24T22:47:08ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsOman Journal of Ophthalmology0974-620X2012-01-0152757810.4103/0974-620X.99367Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmologyImran HaqHumayun A KhatibEurope in the Middle Ages had descended into a dark period, and none more so than in the field of medicine. The rich heritage of the pagan Greeks had largely been ignored or forgotten by medieval Europe, and instead it was the early Arabist world that embraced and developed the Hellenistic medical teachings, emerging not only as guardians of the classical learning still existent, but also as pioneers and innovators, restricted only by the development in the associated fields. The Kahhal (), or Oculist or Eye Specialist, had a privileged place in royal households, especially during the Abbasid period, in contrast to the time of Galen, whose writings referred to ophthalmologists in a rather derogatory manner. This elevated standing in the medical profession allowed Arabist scholars to cultivate remarkably erudite techniques and exceptional texts, which were used until very recently.http://www.ojoonline.org/article.asp?issn=0974-620X;year=2012;volume=5;issue=2;spage=75;epage=78;aulast=HaqArabistmedicineophthalmologysurgery |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Imran Haq Humayun A Khatib |
spellingShingle |
Imran Haq Humayun A Khatib Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmology Oman Journal of Ophthalmology Arabist medicine ophthalmology surgery |
author_facet |
Imran Haq Humayun A Khatib |
author_sort |
Imran Haq |
title |
Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmology |
title_short |
Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmology |
title_full |
Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmology |
title_fullStr |
Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmology |
title_full_unstemmed |
Light through the dark ages: The Arabist contribution to Western ophthalmology |
title_sort |
light through the dark ages: the arabist contribution to western ophthalmology |
publisher |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
series |
Oman Journal of Ophthalmology |
issn |
0974-620X |
publishDate |
2012-01-01 |
description |
Europe in the Middle Ages had descended into a dark period, and none more so than in the field of medicine. The rich heritage of the pagan Greeks had largely been ignored or forgotten by medieval Europe, and instead it was the early Arabist world that embraced and developed the Hellenistic medical teachings, emerging not only as guardians of the classical learning still existent, but also as pioneers and innovators, restricted only by the development in the associated fields. The Kahhal (), or Oculist or Eye Specialist, had a privileged place in royal households, especially during the Abbasid period, in contrast to the time of Galen, whose writings referred to ophthalmologists in a rather derogatory manner. This elevated standing in the medical profession allowed Arabist scholars to cultivate remarkably erudite techniques and exceptional texts, which were used until very recently. |
topic |
Arabist medicine ophthalmology surgery |
url |
http://www.ojoonline.org/article.asp?issn=0974-620X;year=2012;volume=5;issue=2;spage=75;epage=78;aulast=Haq |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT imranhaq lightthroughthedarkagesthearabistcontributiontowesternophthalmology AT humayunakhatib lightthroughthedarkagesthearabistcontributiontowesternophthalmology |
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