How_and_Why_Has_the_Reputation_of_Ibn_Sina’s_Canon_Changed_over_Time_

How and why has the reputation of Ibn Sina’s Canon changed over time' In this essay we will explore how and why the reputation of Ibn Sina’s Canon changed over time. To do this we will look to how the Islamic world developed its medical theory from earlier Greek works and used contemporary information to build on this. We will explore how the reputation of the Canon became widespread throughout the Islamic world and how it came to be the foremost medical text of its time, despite an array of other medical texts also prevalent. We will then move on to discuss how the reputation of the Canon spread to the western world as Islamic medical works were translated in Europe. Finally we look at how the Canon began to fall out of favour as the humanism movement focused on the importance of the classical era. The principals of Islamic medicine became deeply rooted in the theory of humoural medicine, developed by the Greeks between the fifth century BCE and the third century CE. During this time Greek practitioners (primarily Hippocrates and Galen) developed a systemic explanation of body function which, at the time, was considered comprehensive in its coverage. This theory of medicine, based on four humours: blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm, would remain influential for hundreds of years and travel across continents. Although the Islamic world had its own notions regarding medical care, treatments at the time were unsophisticated and based on trial and error rather than any comprehensive theory of medicine. During the seventh and eighth century CE, as the Islamic world became more powerful and expanded, great interest was taken in early Greek medical manuscripts; huge numbers of works were translated. These translated texts “provided the basis for a distinctive Islamic culture of medicine, which continued and developed Greek traditions” (Brunton, 2008, p. 161). Ali ibn Sina’s Al Qanan fil al-tibb (Canon of Medicine), referred to as the Canon, was highly regarded in the Islamic world. Ibn Sina held “considerable influence in the medical world” (Saffari M, Pakpour AH, Avicenna's Canon of Medicine, 2012, p. 785). Whereas many previous Islamic medical texts were simply translations of individual Greek works, the Canon was a compilation of several. Ibn Sina did not merely translate these works, but collated and interpreted a huge selection of them. What was presented was then a highly organised and comprehensive account of Greek medicine. The Greek humoural theory explained body function in such a systematic way that no attempt was made to fundamentally revise it. “Galen’s positive ideas about anatomy, physiology, disease, and treatment of disease have the pride of place in the Canon, as they do in all of Islamic medicine.” (Musallam, 2011). However one area in which Ibn Sina (along with other Islamic practitioners) differed from the Greeks was the extensive use of drugs. Whereas the Greeks focussed on the role of diet, lifestyle and the environment, the Canon listed over 800 individual drugs and 650 compound prescriptions which could be used to treat conditions. New drugs were then categorised and fitted into the humoural system. The Canon was not the first authoritative exposition of Galenic medicine. Authors such as Mohammad b. Zakariya Razi, and Ali b. Abbas Majusi had published sophisticated medical works. Despite this the Canon has been described as a “monumental unity” and “the clear and ordered ’summa’ of all the medical knowledge of Ibn Sīnā’s time” (A.-M. Goichon, Ibn Sina EI2 III, p. 942, in Musallam, 2011). Such was the influence of the Canon that it was “considered a medical masterpiece” and “during his time, he (Ibn Sina) was regarded as a prominent physician and philosopher who influenced the world through his valuable works” (Saffari M, Pakpour AH, Avicenna's Canon of Medicine, 2012, p. 785). Not only was the Canon held in high regard in Iran, but its influence spread throughout the Islamic world at the time. Although there were many books based on individual Greek works and also compilations, the Canon’s reach was widespread. It became the main medical text in the Indian sub-continent, with summaries from regional authors also prevalent; it was also held in high regard in Egypt and Sham (now Syria). At that time it became “the most prevailing text book in the Islamic World” (Moosavi, Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology, 2009, p. 5). Although the Canon was not the only compilation of medical works, what set it apart from the rest was its “organisation and clarity” (Britannica Academic Edition, 2013). Other works, such as The Mansurian Book of Medicine by al-Razi were also divided into categories and books; however the way in which the Canon was organised made it easy for practitioners to find help in diagnosing an ailment, finding what drugs would help and also providing information on how to better understand a condition. AN added advantage was that it “set practice firmly on a theoretical basis, which allowed practitioners to approach the process of diagnosing and treating patients on a logical footing” (Brunton, 2008, p. 167). Such was the influence of the Canon that it was not only the foremost medical text across the Islamic world, but came to have substantial influence in Europe several hundred years after it had been written. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries CE, Europe experienced significant socio-economic growth. Opportunity for success in literary occupations also increased and accordingly there was a strong appetite in intellectual pursuits, including medicine. This economic and intellectual growth also became a catalyst for the translation of Islamic works on a wide variety of subjects including medicine, philosophy and other scientific subjects. In circumstances similar to that in the Islamic world from the seventh century CE onwards, as Europe prospered economically the population increased, towns and cities grew in size and trade thrived. In the early twelfth century CE the Canon benefitted from this surge in intellectual pursuits and was translated from Arabic into Latin. Whereas in the time of Ibn Sina, where medical information was passed primarily by studying books or by learning from experienced practitioners, in the thirteenth century CE with the advent of the University, learning become more widespread and formalised. As the spread of Universities moved across Europe so did the study of the Canon and by the early thirteenth century it “had become an established University text” (Brunton, 2008, p. 173). Therefore it became influential in education as well as with medical practitioners. As it had been in the Islamic world, Ibn Sina’s Canon became the most significant work of its kind. It can be argued that what set it apart from its closest rivals was its rational approach. Ibn Sina took “extraordinary pains…to circumscribe medicine to what he considered to be its proper domain” (Musallam, 2011). This is in contrast to other works, for example Majusi’s Kamel al-sena, which began with a history of medicine from the ancient Greeks and justified his work without reference. “By defining the place of medicine in the hierarchy of the sciences… [Ibn Sina] increased the appeal of his work as a textbook for teachers of the medieval curriculum” (Musallam, 2011). It was this approach which, as it had done in the Islamic world, gave practitioners the tools to diagnose disease and “prescribe a range of treatments adapted to individual patients” (Brunton, 2008, p. 173). The Canon continued to be held in high regard in Europe from the twelfth century CE to the late fifteenth century CE. Its fall from favour coincided with the rise of humanism. This movement believed that civilisation had peaked during the classical era; the period between eighth century BCE and fifth century CE during the reign of the ancient Greeks and ancient Romans. Accordingly Islamic works were criticised and marginalised as practitioners began to return to original Greek texts. Despite this the Canon continued to be used in Universities throughout the sixteenth century CE. For a period of time in history Ibn Sina’s Canon was one of the foremost medical texts. This was due to its foundation in the humoural theory developed by the Greeks and its comprehensive and systematic approach. The Canon was both a theoretical work and a useful guide to practicing medicine. It was this combination that set it apart from contemporary Islamic works and allowed it to travel across continents. Such was the reputation of the Canon that it was translated into Latin and, with the rise of the Universities in the thirteenth century CE, came to be one of the most prominent and highly regarded medical texts in history. Although Islamic authors eventually fell out of favour in Europe Ibn Sina’s influence was nevertheless significant. It can be said that "The book of Canon by Avicenna [Ibn Sina] is the combination of all medical knowledge of the past and infrastructure of all later publications" (Moosavi, Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology, 2009, p. 5).