In ancient times, many of the best medical practices were developed by armies under the pressure of constant battle. The Greek physician and father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, put it best, "If one wants to become a surgeon, one should follow the army."  It has been true throughout history, under certain circumstances, that the knowledge of medicine and medical techniques increases during war.  In the ancient world, the relationship between the two was greatly realized.  In fact, the ancient Greek word for surgeon means "extractor of arrows."

  Hippocrates: "... to become a surgeon ... follow the army."

There are two factors in particular that accelerated the development of medical knowledge in the ancient world, both of which were very important.  First, it mattered to what degree the army was organized and could support an organized corps of medical professionals.  Not only was it important to be organized and have doctors, but it was important to have doctors that had access to some type of medium such as a military medical school, or an early form of a hospital, where they could obtain information about what had previously been learned, and where they could, in turn, pass on information about what they themselves discovered.  Second, and sadly, the more battles fought, and with them the more injuries and diseases suffered, the more opportunities there were to develop new treatments and learn about illness and wounds.  Third, it mattered to what degree medical practitioners relied and based their practice on religion.  For example, if a doctor focused on sacrificing animals or chanting to the gods rather than treating wounds, infections, and diseases, it would take quite a long while before medical advancements could take place due to actual trial-and-error experience.  Because the medical practice was so important, and war was so common in ancient times, there are many examples of the effects of war on medicine in ancient times.  Of these, the most interesting and illuminating are the those of Ancient Egypt and Rome.

Ancient Egypt and the Treatment of Skull Fractures

Ancient Rome and the Advent of Sophisticated Medicine