Christian fearlessness under early Roman persecution
Early Christians were known for fearlessness in facing death under Roman religious persecution. … Read the post Christian fearlessness under early Roman persecution
Ibn Abi Usaybiah
Here’s some analysis and commentary on Ibn Abi Usaybi’ah’s History of Physicians, which was written in Arabic in thirteenth-century Damascus. Ibn Abi Usaybi’ah’s book describes physicians and medical practices from the origin of medicine to the thirteenth century.
Ibn Abi Usaybi’ah’s book is now freely available online with Arabic text, English translation, commentary, and interpretive essays: Savage-Smith, Emilie, Simon Swain, G. J. H. van Gelder, and Ignacio Javier Sánchez Rojo. 2020. A literary history of medicine: the ‘Uyūn al-anbā’ fī ṭabaqāt al-aṭibbā’ of Ibn Abīuṣaybi’ah {The Best Accounts of the Classes of Physicians}. 5 vols. Handbook of Oriental studies. Section One, Near and Middle East, volume 134/1. Leiden: Brill.
early Islamic stories shift heroes from deeds to ideals
Compared to ancient Greek stories, early Islamic stories shift narrative weight from deeds to ideals. … Read the post early Islamic stories shift heroes from deeds to ideals
poetic currency of ancient Islamic social distinction
Poetry was a common currency for claiming social distinction in the ancient Islamic world. … Read the post poetic currency of ancient Islamic social distinction
the perfect physician can revive the dead
Fulfilling a universal human hope is a physician who can revive the dead: the perfect physician. … Read the post the perfect physician can revive the dead
Indian and Greek medicine competing in eighth-century Baghdad
Greek medicine prevailed over Indian medicine under the Abbasids at least in part through story-telling and courtly politics. … Read the post Indian and Greek medicine competing in eighth-century Baghdad