Dissemination of Medical Knowledge: The Role of al-Qanun Abridgements in the Muslim East

Document Type : Conference Paper

Author

Doctor of Historical Science, Department of history of science and culture of East, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Avicenna’s monumental medical encyclopedia “The Canon of Medicine” was a hugely influential work but its sheer size consisting of five extensive books were too large for daily use by physicians and students. To solve this problem, a crucial tradition of writing abridgements began in the mid-eleventh century. This practice was vital in making the vast knowledge contained within “The Canon” more accessible to a wider audience, thereby ensuring its ideas could be applied more easily in medical practice and education. The abridgements were not simply summaries. They were often enriched with the authors’ own new ideas and clinical observations, transforming them into new, dynamic texts. This shows that Avicenna’s influence was not static; it led to a living body of knowledge that was continually adapted and expanded upon. This article highlights key abridgements such as al-Fusūl al-Ilāqiyya fī kulliyāt aṭ-ṭibb by al-Īlāqī (d. 1068), Mu‘jaz al-Qānūn by Ibn al-Nafīs (1207–1288) and Qānūncha fī-ṭibb by Maḥmūd ibn Muḥammad al-Chaghmaynī (fourteenth century).

Keywords

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 14, Suppl. 1
The 2nd History of Medicine Meeting: Entangled Histories: Contribution of Iran and Türkiye to the Development of Medical Sciences; 2025 Oct 7-10; Shiraz, Iran
October 2025
Pages 7-10

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