First of four key lectures, delivered by Carole Hillenbrand, Professor of Islamic History at the University of Edinburgh, and author of "The Crusades: Islamic Perspectives".

Madness: Between Medieval Islamic and Modern Perspectives

The Historical Background: Saladin's Court (Key Lecture)

This podcast was recorded at a conference at St Cross College, University of Oxford, in March 2010. The conference brought together well-established historians of medieval Islamic history and contemporary psychiatrists to consider what 'madness' is. The workshop started with the physicians at the court of Saladin (and how they treated depression) and looked at other issues such as medieval hospitals and the mad, mad poets, or love-sickness. Many contemporary Muslim psychiatrists participated as well.

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Madness: Between Medieval Islamic and Modern Perspectives