Health Institutions and Treatment Methods in Konya before the Establishment of Modern Medicine

ABSTRACT

Seljuks gave great importance to the treatment of diseases and medical education. While the Seljuk sultans were reconstructing the cities, they also made investments in the field of health. In the Seljuks, health services were generally provided in institutions such as dârü’ş-şifâs and caravanserai hospitals. They were careful about the health issue against the risk of epidemics, and applied the modern treatment methods of the period against diseases such as leprosy and plague. In the Seljuk lands, dârü’ş-şifâs, hospitals in the caravanserai and mobile hospitals were serving the patients. In the caravanserais, passengers were given free health care. Apart from the Seljuk rulers, statesmen and benefactors also had dârü’ş-şifâs built. In this study, the health structures and treatment methods in Konya before the establishment of modern medicine will be examined.

Key words: The Seljuk Hospitals, Medicine, Dârü’ş-şifâ, Konya