Which cities were important centers of medicine in the Muslim world during the Middle Ages?

During the Middle Ages, several cities served as prominent centers of medicine and scholarship within the Muslim world. These urban hubs were instrumental in the advancement of medical knowledge, often featuring hospitals and medical schools that facilitated the training of physicians and the development of clinical practices.

Key centers of medicine included:

• Baghdad: As a major intellectual capital, Baghdad was home to significant medical activity and institutions, including hospitals that utilized systems of interns and externs.12
• Cairo: Renowned for its medical infrastructure, Cairo hosted hospitals and medical schools that were considered equal in stature to those in Baghdad and Córdoba.2
• Córdoba: A vital center of commerce and culture in Muslim Spain, Córdoba was home to a notable hospital and medical school. It is particularly associated with the work of the surgeon Abū al-Qāsim, who significantly elevated the status of surgery.2

These cities were part of a broader network of learning where scholars, including Muslims, Jews, and Christians, contributed to the history of medicine. Their institutions fostered advancements in areas such as pharmacology, surgery, and anatomy, which were later transmitted to the West.123