Medicine through Time 4

EXAM PRACTICE

Q: Explain why there was so little progress in understanding and treating disease during the Middle Ages (12 marks)

Points (3 paragraphs = 3 points):

• The infuence of the Church

• Limited understanding of disease (Hippocrates and Galen)

• Lack of public hospitals and government funding

A: Progress in the Middle Ages was so little due to the huge influence of the Church, as it became more popular as a result of it being international so it was the only form of worldwide communication. The monks and priests were mainly the only people who could read and write, therefore the Church had control over the books that were written so people learnt only what they taught- they firmly believed their ideas were correct and critised those who had different idea to them. They also controlled medical training which meant that people couldn't perform dissections…