Medicine

• What was the belief about disease during medieval Britain?

  It was seen as a punishment from God
• How did medieval people believe they could cure disease?

  Through prayer and repentance
• Who were believed to be behind outbreaks of disease?

  Demons and witches
• What role did the church play in medieval medicine?

  The church dominated the study and understanding of medicine
• Why did the church prevent dissection during the medieval period?

  Because it was rooted in the belief that the body was sacred
• What was the four humors theory?

  A theory that the body was made up of four liquids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile
• Who created the four humors theory?

  Hippocrates
• What did Galen believe about treating diseases?

  He believed diseases could be treated by using opposites
• What was the miasma theory?

  The idea that bad air causes disease
• How did the miasma theory influence hygiene practices?

  It prompted people to engage in hygienic practices like cleaning streets
• What was the significance of Hippocrates and Galen's writings?

  They were considered important texts by the Roman Catholic Church
• What was the impact of Islamic medicine on medieval Europe?

  It helped preserve and translate classical medical knowledge
• Who translated Greek medical texts into Arabic?

  Hunayn ibn Ishaq
• What was Avicenna's contribution to medicine?

  He wrote the Canon of Medicine, compiling ideas from Galen and Hippocrates
• What did al-Razi describe in the 12th century?

  The parasite that causes scabies
• What was the role of alchemy in medieval medicine?

  It attempted to turn base metals into gold and discover the elixir of life
• What were common treatments for disease during the medieval period?

  Prayer, repentance, bloodletting, and purging
• What was the purpose of public hospitals in medieval times?

  To care for the sick and elderly
• Who were barber-surgeons?

  Barbers who also performed surgical procedures
• What did Hugh of Lucca and Theodoric contribute to surgery?

  They recognized the importance of practical experience and observations
• What was the impact of the Black Death on public health measures?

  It highlighted the ineffectiveness of existing beliefs about disease treatment
• What were the two illnesses that made up the Black Death?

  Bubonic plague and pneumonic plague
• How was the bubonic plague spread?

  By the bites of fleas from rats
• What did some people believe caused the Black Death?

  Sin and punishment from God
• How did medieval beliefs about disease treatment differ from modern understandings?

  Medieval beliefs often attributed disease to supernatural causes, while modern understandings focus on biological and environmental factors
• What were the main medical practices during the medieval period?

  • Prayer and repentance
  • Bloodletting and purging
  • Use of astrology for diagnosis
  • Remedies from apothecaries and wise women
  • Surgery by barber-surgeons
• What were the key differences between physicians and apothecaries in medieval Britain?

  • Physicians:
  • Trained at university for at least seven years
  • Expensive and less accessible
  • Apothecaries:
  • Prepared and sold remedies
  • More common and accessible for the public
• What were the living conditions in towns during the medieval period?

  • Houses made of wood and overcrowded
  • Poor sewage systems leading to contamination
  • Clean water supplies were rare
  • Public health measures were introduced post-Black Death
• How did the Black Death influence public health and medical beliefs?

  • Highlighted ineffectiveness of existing treatments
  • Led to the introduction of public health measures
  • Changed perceptions about the causes of disease
• What were the contributions of Islamic medicine to medieval Europe?

  • Preserved classical medical knowledge
  • Translated important texts into Arabic
  • Introduced new medical practices and discoveries
• What were the main theories of disease in medieval medicine?

  • Four humors theory
  • Miasma theory
  • Supernatural causes (demons, punishment from God)
• What were the roles of the church in medieval medicine?

  • Dominated medical education and beliefs
  • Prevented dissection of human bodies
  • Promoted the idea of disease as punishment from God
• What were the common surgical practices during the medieval period?

  • Rarely performed due to danger
  • Conducted by barber-surgeons
  • Minor procedures like treating hernias or cataracts
• What were the main treatments for disease during the medieval period?

  • Prayer and repentance
  • Bloodletting and purging
  • Use of herbal remedies
  • Astrology for diagnosis
• What was the significance of the Hippocratic oath?

  • A promise made by doctors to uphold ethical standards
  • Originated from Hippocrates' teachings
  • Still in use today in modified forms
• What were the characteristics of medieval hospitals?

  • Run by the church
  • Focused on caring for the sick and elderly
  • Provided food, water, and shelter
• What were the contributions of Hugh of Lucca and Theodoric to surgery?

  • Emphasized practical experience and observation
  • Developed methods for cleaning wounds
  • Questioned some of Galen's ideas
• What were the effects of the Black Death on society?

  • Significant population reduction
  • Shift in beliefs about disease and treatment
  • Introduction of public health measures
• What were the main causes of the Black Death?

  • Bubonic plague spread by fleas
  • Pneumonic plague spread through the air
  • Beliefs in sin and punishment from God
• What were the common beliefs about the causes of disease during the medieval period?

  • Supernatural causes (demons, punishment from God)
  • Imbalances in the four humors
  • Bad air (miasma)