Changes From The Hellenistic Era (C. 240 BCE) To The Renaissance?

Medical knowledge underwent several transformations from the Hellenistic era (c. 240 BCE) to the Renaissance (c. 1500 CE). This essay will attempt to analyse the various transformations and innovations that came about through translations and will illustrate some problems that arose as well. First it will approach Greek medicine by giving an overview of humoural medicine and the individuals that helped develop it. Following the reasons for translations in Islamic culture, it will analyse the translations of Greek works into Arabic and then into Latin. Finally, it will give a short overview of medical history up to modern medicine.
Between 400 BCE and 400 CE the Grecian or Hellenistic Empire brought a rational and systematic approach to medicine
Brought on by expanding urban cities, Baghdad in particular, and economic growth, the Islamic elite became wealthy and could afford to fund translations of Greek philosophy and medicine. Hippocrates’ ideas were known through other writers in the Islamic world but Galen was seen as the medical authority. The most famous translator of his manuscripts was Hunayn ibn Ishaq (c. 808-873 CE). In a short period of time in the ninth century manuscripts on every aspect of medical knowledge, even diseases and cures that an Islamic practitioner would never encounter were translated, often even several times to ensure a better and more accurate translation. (Brunton, 2008, pp 157-167) (Pormann & Savage-Smith, 2007, pp
Translators like Hunayn and other practitioners wrote specialised books on individual subjects such as the eye and illustrated and recorded unknown conditions (figure 2). Ali ibn Sina was an important figure in this development, he contributed Al-Qanan fi al-tibb (Canon of Medicine) to the body of medical texts. This large collection divided up the knowledge into categories and could be used as a logical diagnostic tool. Although compendia had been written in the Hellenistic world, Islamic authors systematised information, making it easier for practitioners to apply it to actual cases. (Brunton, 2008, pp. 165-167)

With the rise of the Catholic church, Latin became the lingua franca and the body of medical knowledge slowly went through another transformation from the eleventh to the thirteenth century. The reconquest of Europe brought the Latin speaking world into contact with Arabic knowledge. Economies, trade, and urban centres grew and with it schools and the desire to develop intellectually. Thus, a renewed interest in Greek philosophy and science was seen and funds were again available for translations (Brunton, 2008, pp.