medieval

• Stagnation in Medieval Development


  • Lack of innovation compared to previous ancient civilizations
  • Focus on survival due to poverty, famine, and war
  • Limited progress in medicine and other fields
• Challenges in Medieval Society

  • Poverty, famine, and war were prevalent
  • Food shortages during bad harvests led to malnutrition and illness
  • Wars caused further illness and injury, exacerbating societal issues
• Belief in Supernatural Causes

  • People attributed illness to divine punishment or malevolent spirits
  • Religious practices were followed to avoid sickness
  • Supernatural beliefs persisted despite scientific advancements in other areas
• The Concept of the Four Humours

  • Originated from the Greek philosopher Hippocrates
  • Theory stated that the body consisted of four fluids: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile
  • Imbalance in these humours was believed to cause illness
• Hygiene Issues


  • Cramped medieval towns lacked proper sanitation and cleanliness
  • Waste disposal was rudimentary, leading to contamination of streets and water sources
  • Lack of hygiene created breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests like rats and flies
• The Black Death (1348)


  • Devastating epidemic during the 14th century
  • Spread by plague-infested rats on a ship from East Europe
  • Wiped out entire villages at alarming speed
• Misconceptions Surrounding the Black Death

  • Blamed on supernatural causes like punishment from God or alignment of stars
  • Some attributed it to smells or even blamed the Jewish community
  • Truth: caused by unhygienic living conditions rather than supernatural forces