Arabic botany and pharmacology with particular reference to the work of Al-Zahrawi and Ibn Juljul in Muslim Spain

Thesis

This thesis attempts to add further details to the knowledge of the theory and practice of medicine and botany in 10th-century Andalus, Islamic Spain. It concentrates mainly upon the botanical aspect, since medicine consisted to a great extent of the knowledge and use of herbs and medicinal plants. Botany as we know it today was preceded by medicinal botany, considering plants solely from the point of view of their usefulness to man. This aspect, too, gives the greatest scope for enquiring into the specifically national or regional character of medicine as practised in Andalus.

The foundations of medical studies were laid by the Greeks, from whom the Arabic writers took their principles and methods. Translation from the Greek medical texts preceded further study and gradually gave rise to an Arabic literature on the subject. Arabic medicine consisted not merely of Greek but of many other elements, including the use of local customs and herbs where these were appropriate.

In Andalus in particular there was an interest in local names, variants of plants, and metheds of processing herbs and drugs. The writers here were very much aware of the problems inherent in the translations, problems both linguistic and botanical, and of the regional variations in climate, landscape and consequently plant life. They were moreover interested in local indigenous plant names - in the language which they called Latīnī or ^cajamiyat al-Andalus.

Authors: Johnstone, PC

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-yqo5kbmp7
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: Arabs; Muslim Spain; Juljul; Al-Zahrawi; Spain; Islamic Empire; Arabic botany; pharmacology; Ibn Juljul; botany
• Subjects: Botany -- Islamic Empire; Arabs -- Spain; Pharmacology -- Islamic Empire