In many ways Islamic medicine was more advanced than that found in Western Europe. By the later Middle Ages, ideas from the East reached the West, partly due to the Crusades.

The Caliphate - a single ruler of the Islamic world ensured peace and progress, in contrast to Dark Ages in Europe.
Books from the Greeks and Romans were translated into Arabic and stored in the Caliphate’s ‘House of Wisdom’.
The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad taught people to look for cures, unlike Christianity. Mental illness was seen as a disease that needed treating whereas in Christianity it was seen as a curse from God.
Hospitals, e.g. the one in Baghdad, treated patients and trained doctors. It welcomed Muslims and non-Muslims.

Rhazes

Emphasised the importance of observation of a patient.
Questioned Galen in his book, ‘Doubts about Galen’.
Discovered the symptoms of smallpox.
Hung up meat in different parts of the city and built a hospital where it was slowest to rot.

Avicenna

Wrote 'Canon of Medicine' in 1025, the main textbook used up until 17th century.

GCSE Health and the People AQA

Islamic Medicine