A study of the Healthcare in Tabriz during Safavid period (907-1148 AH)

Tabriz is considered among one of the cities that had great political and economic importance during the Safavid period. However, having had such an importance, the favorable weather conditions and preventive measures in the field of urban health, there were several also problems. Despite the presence of skilled physicians and the construction of several hospitals, due to lack of serious evolution in the field of healthcare and the prevalence of infectious diseases, there wasn’t any good health care condition.

The main materials of the present study are information and data from historical sources, travelogues as well as medical thesis of the Safavid period. Along with them, new research in the field of health and medicine of the Safavid period were used. The method applied in this research is descriptive-analytical; besides, the research was carried out based on data collection by library research method.

According to the available information, it appears that despite the favorable weather conditions, the lack of the problem of water shortage and pollutants; being influenced by various factors such as wars and the prevalence of infectious diseases, regardless of transforming the hospitals into hospices, the continuation of science and treatment methods weren’t favorable.

 During this reaserc process, while referring to the mentioned context, not only  has it been tried that the principle of fidelity and loyalty as well as originality of resources to be taken in account, but it alsohas been tried to avoid bias in referring to the texts or analyzes.

In the present paper, first the factors affecting the environmental health are studied and then physicians and medical centers are examined; furthermore, the positive and negative factors affecting the healthcare of Tabriz are studied and analyzed in the interval between the rise and fall of Safavid.