In: Nursing
Explain the evolution of health care from a religious perspective as demonstrated by Hippocrates, Maimonides, Basil, Camillus, and the Crusaders.
The history of health care or hospitals began in antiquity with hospitals in Greece, the Roman Empire and on the Indian subcontinent as well, starting with precursors in the Ascelpian temples in ancient Greece and then the military hospitals in ancient Rome. By 4th century, the "second medical revolution" took place with the founding of the first Christian hospital in the eastern Byzantine Empire by Basil of Caesarea,
Christianity made its appearance at a time when religion, even magic, played a much more important role in health care than it does today. Christians saw secular medicine as a legitimate form of supernatural cure and not as magic.
Hippocrates focused on the “natural” treatment of diseases and the importance of independence of mind and harmony between individual, social and natural environment.
Ancient civilisations believed in a multitude of gods or goddesses, magical forces and supernatural powers which affected their health. Maimonides defines medicine as a basic religious obligation based on his new interpretation of a well known Biblical verse. according to Maimonides understanding medical practice and research is directly rooted in the most classical of Jewish sources.
Basil’s offered generous Christians an opportunity for spiritual blessings and has gained a reputation as “the first hospital” not only because diseases were studied within its confines, but also because physicians and nurses treated sick patients there.
Crusades orders established several new traditions of Catholic medical care. The famous Knights Hospitaller arose as a group of individuals associated with an Amalfitan hospital in Jerusalem, which was built to provide care for poor, sick or injured pilgrims to the Holy Land.