Did they have doctors in the middle ages?

Yes, they did. Medicine in the Middle Ages was a diverse and evolving field, and doctors were highly respected members of society. They were often highly educated, and they drew upon a wide range of knowledge and skills in order to treat their patients.

Early medieval medicine was largely based on the teachings of the ancient Greek physician Galen, whose theories dominated medical thought for centuries. Galenic medicine was based on the belief that the human body was made up of four humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. It was believed that an excess or deficiency of one or more of these humors could lead to disease. Galenic doctors used a variety of treatments to restore the balance of humors, including bloodletting, purging, and herbal remedies.

In the 12th century, a new wave of medical knowledge began to emerge from Europe's universities. These universities were centers of learning, and they played a key role in the development of new medical ideas and practices. One of the most important figures in the development of medieval medicine was the Arab physician Ibn Sina (known in the West as Avicenna). Ibn Sina's work, The Canon of Medicine, became one of the most important medical texts of the Middle Ages. It was translated into Latin and was used as a textbook in European universities for centuries.

The Canon of Medicine was a comprehensive guide to medical practice, and it covered everything from anatomy to surgery to pharmacology. It was based on the teachings of Galen, but it also incorporated new ideas and observations. For example, Ibn Sina described the circulation of blood in the lungs, which was a major breakthrough in medical knowledge.

In addition to their medical knowledge, medieval doctors were also skilled surgeons. They performed a variety of operations, including amputations, cataract surgery, and caesarean sections. They also developed new surgical instruments, such as the scalpel and the forceps.

Despite the advances in medical knowledge and practice, the Middle Ages was still a time of great disease. The average life expectancy was low, and people were often afflicted by plagues and other epidemics. However, the doctors of the Middle Ages were dedicated to their patients, and they made significant contributions to the development of modern medicine.