Timeline: Rhazes (Abu Bakr Muhammad Bin Zakariya Ar-Razi), c. 860–932 CE

Rhazes, a Persian, born near modern-day Tehran, Iran, made contributions not only to the field of medicine but also to philosophy and chemistry/alchemy.

Rhazes received his medical education in Baghdad, but his first in-charge placement was at a Royal Hospital in Ray (also Rayy and Rai), Iran. However, he soon returned to Baghdad, taking up a similar position at Muqtadari Hospital.

In Baghdad, Rhazes wrote the first known description of small pox, which was translated into Latin and other European languages (usually translated as On Smallpox and Measles). He is also considered the first to have written on allergies, particularly hay fever. Rhazes compiled a comprehensive medical book (usually called the Comprehensive Book), which included available information from early Greek, Syrian, and Arabic medicine as well as his own observations. He also compiled pharmacy texts and attacked the charlatans and snake-oil sellers of the day. (He even expressed doubts about some of the beliefs of the famous doctor Galen!) Rhazes made three classifications of disease: diseases that are curable, diseases that can be cured, and diseases that cannot be cured. He has been credited with being the first person to use animal gut for sutures and plaster of Paris to construct casts.

Though he spoke against charlatans, Rhazes also was quick to say that doctors didn't know everything and should always keep up with the latest information and study medical books. He could also be considered an early proponent of self-care, writing a 36-chapter home medical book for ordinary people to use to treat common conditions with diets, compresses, and medications when no doctor was available.

Meanwhile … 787–870: Invasions of England by Norsemen and Danes. 871–899: Reign of Alfred the Great of England.

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