The History and Impact of the Muslim Hospital

Volume 3 of this scholarly series provides insight into the history of hospitals of the Islamic world and Muslim medical history in the ‘Abbasid period including focus on the Bimaristan al-Sayidah (Baghdad), medical care in Makkah and Madina, Medical examination and license under al-Muqtadir, the Adudi hospital, the role of the state in providing financial support for hospitals, hospitals in Persia and Central Asia during the ‘Abbasid era, the Ibn Tulun hospital (Fustat, Egypt, 9th century CE), other forms of hospitals under the ‘Abbasid state in the 10th century CE, prison hospitals under the ‘Abbasids and rural patient care. The volume thereafter addresses mobile clinics, military hospitals, ‘ Abbasid hospitals in the 12th century CE and the Al-Mustansiriya (13th century Baghdad). This volume provides substantive coverage therefore to hospitals of the ‘Abbasid period. Hospitals in the crusader period (1095-1291 CE) are thereafter assessed including also the famous Maristan of Nur ad-Din (Damascus) and Bimaristan Ayyubi (Cairo) before exploration of the Maristan of al-Mansur Yaqub ibn Yusuf (Morocco) is provided. The history of the hospitals of the Islamic world is thereafter considered in relation to the Mongol invasions of the 13th century and the Seljuks of Rum Seljuks of Rum before assessment is made of the hospitals of the Mamluks including the Maristan al-Muwayyedi, the Maristan al-Mansuri and Maristan Argun. The volume concludes with a study of the hospitals of Muslim Spain (Al-Andalus). This volume therefore addresses a very significant period in Muslim medical and hospital history that witnessed the growth in scope, work and impact of hospitals of the Islamic world whose medical activities including knowledge and practice would eventually permeate into Western Europe as addressed later in this series. This volume provides the reader with rich information and insight into a notable period in Muslim medical history and the history of hospitals, based on scholarly and accessible research by the writer of this series.