History (Paper 2)

Health and the People 

Medieval Doctors

An idea which came from ancient Greek philosophers such as Hippocrates. It was believed that the body was made up of four elements; blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm.

Christianity vs. Islam

• Christianity:- Believed in caring for the sick but not curing.
• Went on pilgrimages and believed in miracles.
• Monks made copies of medical books.
• Hospitals relied on the Church for money.
• Punished people who challenge Galen's ideas.

• Islam:- Interested in science and medicine.
• Searching for cures was encouraged.
• Hospitals were built in Islamic cities providing care for everyone.
• Believed in careful observation of the patient.
• Ideas travelled due to trading and the war.

The Black Death

• Many people believed that this was a punishment from God.
• It was caused by rats and the diseases that they carried.
• The streets were unhygenic which meant that diseases spread quickly anyway.
• Any infected areas were quarantined.

17th and 18th century medicine

• If some of the four humours were unbalanced they could…