This book joins a long series of studies conducted in recent years at the Department for Land of Israel Studies at Bar-Ilan University in the Unit for the History of Medicine in Ancient Times. Since the field of study is extensive, the special focus of this treatise is the study of medicine in Greater Jerusalem, but it may serve as a faithful reflection of the nature of medicine and the changes it underwent throughout Israel and Syria in ancient times. The study is based primarily on historical sources. The first part of the book consists of a short history of medicine in Jerusalem from various historical aspects, followed by an evaluation of the physicians, their status, professional training, etc. The second part presents a list of physicians who were active in Jerusalem between the 10th-18th centuries.

Explores the impact of drugs introduced by the Arabs on medieval Mediterranean medicineFor more than one thousand years Arab medicine held sway in the ancient world, from the shores of Spain in the West to China, India and Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in the East. This book explores the impact of Greek (as well as Indian and Persian) medical heritage on the evolution of Arab medicine and pharmacology, investigating it from the perspective of 'materia medica' a reliable indication of the contribution of this medical legacy.Focusing on the main substances introduced and traded by the Arabs in the medieval Mediterranean including Ambergris, camphor, musk, myrobalan, nutmeg, sandalwood and turmeric the authors show how they enriched the existing inventory of drugs influenced by Galenic-Arab pharmacology. Further, they look at how these substances merged with the development and distribution of new technologies and industries that evolved in the Middle Ages such as textiles, paper, dyeing and tanning, and with the new trends, demands and fashions regarding spices, perfumes, ornaments (gemstones) and foodstuffs some of which can be found in our modern-day food basket.Key FeaturesAssesses the assimilation of theoretical and practical Greek, Indian and Persian medicine into Arabic medical cultureReconstructs and presents a list of medicinal substances distributed by the Arabs as a result of their conquestsTells the stories of 33 new Arabic drugs within the context of their natural historyDescribes the contribution of the Arabs to the daily medieval cultural material (medicine, cosmetics, perfumery, dyeing of materials, industrial products and precious stones)Includes 35 colour illustrations