Which civilization is credited with providing knowledge of pharmacology through Materia Medica?

The civilization credited with providing knowledge of pharmacology through Materia Medica is the ancient Indian civilization. The term "Materia Medica" refers to a body of knowledge that encompasses the substances used in medicine, including their properties, effects, and uses. Ancient Indian texts, particularly the “Sushruta Samhita” and the “Charaka Samhita,” are foundational works in the field of medicine and pharmacology. These texts detail various herbal remedies, surgical techniques, and the medicinal properties of plants, which have had a lasting influence on both Eastern and Western medical practices.

While the Egyptians, ancient Greeks, and Chinese also contributed significantly to the field of medicine and pharmacology, the specific concept of Materia Medica as a comprehensive system of medicinal substances is most closely associated with Indian early medical practices. Each of these civilizations had their own approaches to medicinal substances; however, the Indian texts were particularly influential in the formalization and documentation of pharmacological knowledge.