Final answer:
The Hippocratic Corpus attributed to Hippocrates is one of the oldest surviving medical books in Western history, while De Materia Medica by Dioscorides was highly influential in the medieval world. Different cultural spheres contributed to early medical literature, with the Diamond Sutra being the world's first block-printed book in China.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Was the First Medical Book?
The title of 'first medical book' can be attributed to various ancient texts depending on historical period and region. Notably, the Hippocratic Corpus is a collection of texts that are among the oldest surviving medical books, attributed to the Greek physician Hippocrates, often considered the 'father of Western medicine'. These texts established a systematic approach to diagnosing and treating illness, rejecting the idea that supernatural forces caused disease and embracing natural causes relating to patients or environments.
Another significant ancient medical work is De Materia Medica, originally a Greek medical text by Dioscorides from the 1st century CE. It became one of the most influential herbals in the medieval world after being translated into Arabic in medieval Baghdad by the scholars Stephanos ibn Basilos and Hunayn ibn Ishaq.
It is important to note that while these are Western examples, the world's first block-printed book, the Diamond Sutra from China, dates back to 868, highlighting the fact that various cultures contributed significantly to early medical literature.