Already in the 10th century in Salerno medical disciplines were taught with the contribution of scholars from various provenences.
And this multiplicity of origins and contributions was fundamental for the growth and the accreditation of the School, which became the main reference point for medical studies and a very active centre for the elaboration of medical theories and practices, keeping that first prominent role, although with alternating phases, for almost nice centuries.
The abbot and doctor Alphanus also studied the texts of the ancient masters, who favored a philosophical approach to medicine, as was quite normal at the time, greatly benefiting from meetings with doctors of different training. Like the Carthaginian Constantine the Africain, who had travelled throughout the Mediterranean and in Orient, getting a great culture and a solid medical knowledge. Having luckily arrived in Italy, he stopped in Salerno, where he was held in high regard by the first Norman lord of the city, Robert Guiscard. This latter had hosted Alfano as well, who had a delicate as well as determining role in facilitating with no trauma the transition from the Lombard principality to the new Norman order. A great friend of Desiderius, abbot of Montecassino, who would have soon become Pope Victor III, he was the one who introduced him to Constantine, who decided to become a friar, retiring to Montecassino, where he dedicated himself to the translation into Latin of the basic texts of medicine, fruit of the Arab culture and of the great Greek classics of Hippocrates and Galen, of which only Arabic versions existed. A determining work for the School and, more generally, for the progress of medical science of its time. The contribution of Alphanus was also precious from that point of view. He translated works from Greek to which he added two of his own, among which a treaty about the four humours of the human body, which is one of the pillars of the School theoretical-practical elaboration.
In the 12th century, the School strengthened its activity of research and training of new generations of doctors, also continuing the work of recovering, translating and divulgating fundamental Greek, Arabic and Hebrew texts (the same origins as the the mythical founders). During those years of considerable splendor, moreover, it produced many new, specialized texts, fruit of the observations and experiences of two professional figures who were differentiating themselves: the medicus, who for its philosophic and scientific education was in charge of teaching, and the practicus, in other words the surgeon.
With Frederick II, the Salerno School experienced another golden period, since its main function was maximised in favour of public health inaugurated by the emperor, who in the Constitution of Melfi of 1231, approved the first legislation on public health, absolutely cutting edge. In addition, there was a codification of the modalities to hire doctors and medical professors and the organisation of medical studies, which included three years of logic and five of medicine and surgery, with anatomy as a compulsory subject. And for the first time, the rights and duties of the doctor with the patients were established, including the costs of each service, to be provided free of charge to the poor.
