the pace of medical progress and factors for change

• Progress in medicine has not always been consistent, there have been significant periods of continuity and change
• Continuity was especially prevalent during the medieval period and to a certain extent regarding health into the Renaissance period
• Sometimes there is progress in one area (e.g. the understanding of anatomy in the Renaissance) and little progress in others (e.g. the understanding of the cause of disease at the same time)
• Factors affecting change and progress in medicine


  • Individual genius
  • Science and Technology
  • War
  • Religion
  • Government
  • Chance and luck
• The trend of progress is one where progress is slow in the Middle Ages and more focused on continuity, but it accelerates significantly in each subsequent era