A Review of the Historical Formation of Modern Medicine: Definitions, Characteristics, and Contexts

Subject Areas : Iranian Sociological Review

Ali Shahriar Manteghi Fasaie ¹ , Soroush Fathi ^{2 *} , Zahra Zare ³

1 - Ph.D. Student of Sociology, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate Professor of Sociology, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor of Sociology, East Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2022-04-16 Accepted : 2025-06-02 Published : 2025-09-01

Keywords: Medicine, Modern Medicine, Technology, Medical Equipment.,

Abstract :

Modern medicine, as a structured discipline grounded in empirical and scientific methods, is the product of several centuries of transformation, rooted in the medical knowledge of ancient Greece and later enriched by developments during the Islamic Golden Age and the Renaissance. During the Middle Ages, despite scientific stagnation in the Western world, Muslim scholars and Iranian physicians preserved and expanded the foundations of medicine by translating and elaborating upon the works of Hippocrates, Galen, and other Greek physicians. Among them, Avicenna stands out; his seminal work The Canon of Medicine remains one of the most influential texts in medical history. With the advent of the Renaissance and scientific discoveries such as William Harvey’s description of blood circulation and Antonie van Leeuwenhoek’s observation of microorganisms, medicine began evolving toward a more scientific approach, increasingly relying on laboratory experimentation and anatomical dissection. The nineteenth century witnessed remarkable advancements in surgery, anesthesia, aseptic techniques, and epidemiology, bringing medicine closer to its contemporary form. In Iran, modern medicine began in the early 20th century (13th century SH) with the establishment of the Dar al-Fonun School by Mirza Taghi Khan Amir Kabir. The introduction of foreign physicians and modern medical education led to significant transformations in the national health system. Pioneering actions, such as the first modern surgery performed under anesthesia and the development of forensic pathology led by Jakob Eduard Polak, exemplify these changes. Modern medicine is the outcome of a multilayered process influenced not only by the influx of Western science and technology but also by political, social, and cultural reforms. Epidemics and emerging public health needs in both Iran and globally facilitated the acceptance and growth of this new form of medicine, significantly enhancing the societal role of physicians and medical institutions. This transformation—from traditional healing practices to science- and technology-based medicine—has paved the way for human health advancement and continues to shape the trajectory of global healthcare.

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