History of Medicine Key Individuals

History @ Arnewood | GCSE HISTORY REVISION

IBN AN-NAFIS

Period of History of Medicine: ISLAMIC EMPIRE

Following the fall of the Roman Empire in c. 500AD, the eastern half became part of the Islamic Empire. Many of the Greeks and Roman medical books were translated into Arabic, resulting in Hippocrates and Galen's ideas becoming well known throughout the Empire. Eventually these books were re-translated into Latin meaning that the Ancients' ideas were not lost during the Dark Ages as they returned to western Europe.

Key Facts:

Ibn an-Nafis was a doctor in the 13th century.

He read widely, including many of Galen's books.

He disagreed with some of Galen's ideas - in 1242 he said blood did not pass through the septum.

Islamic law prohibited human dissection so he could not prove his ideas.

This meant his ideas did not spread.