Medieval people's theories about the cause of illness and disease could be split between natural such as Hippocrates and Galen and the supernatural such as Christianity
Supernatural
Theories that are spiritual or religious and rely on an element of faith
Natural
Theories based upon what could be observed in the real world, often more scientific but not always correct
Supernatural theories of disease causation in the Middle Ages
Influence of the church
God's actions and punishments
Evil spirits
Astrology and the motion of the stars and planets
Natural theories of disease causation in the Middle Ages
Hippocrates
Galen
Avicenna
Four humors
Miasma
Uroscopy
Both supernatural and natural theories of disease causation in the Middle Ages were incorrect and had little help in healing the sick
It would be a long while before people discovered germs
