ABSTRACT
Medieval medicine and pharmacy were the subjects of numerous researches. The enviable level of health culture and social care of the diseased and debilitated people of the Serbian medieval state was far advanced for the time. However, there are scarce written records of the conditions. The purpose of this paper is to point out the conditions which enabled the foundation of the first Serbian hospitals, development of scientific medicine and spiritual culture in medieval Serbian lands. Favourable conditions for the development of medieval medicine are linked with the arrival of the Nemanjic dynasty to the throne of the Serbian medieval state, i.e. Stefan Nemanja, and later with the life and work of his son Prince Rastko Nemanjic - Saint Sava. The wide field of activity of the Grand Prince Stefan Nemanja included the creation of stable and independent state ("the unifier of all Serbian lands") with a significant and shrewd political activity (vassal to Byzantine Emperor Manuel Comnenus, participation in great alliances against Byzantium), building of churches, defender of the Orthodox Christianity, foundation of the first Serbian hospital outside of borders of Serbian state in Hilandar monastery, social care about people and cultivating literary activity.
