Notes on the Lecture/Presentation

Setting and Initial Events

Time and Place: England, 1021
Opening Scene: A boy named Rob works in a mine alongside adult men, receiving a loaf of bread.
Theft: Rob's bread is stolen while he watches a performance by a wandering healer.

Mother's Illness: At dinner, Rob's mother feels unwell and later awakens with severe abdominal pain.
Priest's Response: Rob seeks help from priests, but they say only God can heal her.
Loss: The mother dies, leaving Rob and his siblings orphaned.
Fate of Siblings: A local family takes in Rob's younger siblings, but Rob is left alone.

Barber's Reluctance: Rob hides in the Barber's wagon, who reluctantly allows him to join the journey.
Performing Together: Rob and the Barber perform for crowds, and Rob is encouraged to seek relationships, but he's more interested in medicine.
Interest in Anatomy: Rob expresses a desire to learn about human anatomy, especially to cure gut disease.
Barber's Warning: The Barber warns Rob against discussing anatomy, as the church disapproves.

First Patient: Rob assists in a procedure (tooth extraction) without anesthesia.
Patient Outcome: A patient dies, causing public outrage against the healers.
Growing Skills: Rob gains experience and begins to assist more in medical procedures, eventually surpassing the Barber.

Jewish Village: They arrive at a village where Rob witnesses circumcision; the Barber is shocked.
Cataract Success: A healer cures the Barber's blindness, and Rob learns about Avicenna, the great healer in Isfahan.
Determination: Rob decides to travel to Isfahan to learn from Avicenna, despite dangers as a Christian in Muslim lands.

Circumcision: Rob circumcises himself to pose as a Jew.
Desert Journey: Rob encounters hardships, including a sandstorm, and loses companions.
Survival: He reaches Isfahan but struggles to gain access to Avicenna due to lack of recommendations.

Learning from Avicenna: After a head injury, Rob learns from Avicenna, who is impressed by Rob's determination.
Cultural Differences: Rob navigates the complexities of being a Jew in a predominantly Muslim society.

Plague Outbreak: A plague threatens the city; Rob and Avicenna work to save lives.
Innovations: Rob deduces that fleas spread the plague and proposes measures to control it.
Rebecca's Illness: Rob falls for Rebecca, who is pregnant, leading to complex relationships.

Betrayal: Rob is accused of witchcraft; he reveals his true identity in court.
Execution Sentence: Rob and Avicenna face execution for practicing forbidden medicine.
Sultan's Illness: The Sultan becomes ill, and Rob is tasked with a risky operation to save him.

Battle and Sacrifice: The city falls to the Seljuks; Rob loses loved ones, including Rebecca.
Rob's Legacy: Years later, Rob becomes a respected doctor, founding a hospital to help others for free.
Barber's Journey: The Barber learns of Rob's achievements and sets out to find him.