Christianity and mediaeval medicine

Created by: SatintheLabrador2007
Created on: 12-04-24 10:42

Ideas from the Catholic Church

• The Catholic Church was extremely powerful.
• It had a large role in training doctors and providing healthcare in infirmaries within monasteries.
• As a result, the Church heavily influenced ideas about the causes of disease and treatments.

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Why did the Church support Galen's ideas?

He believed that a greater being had created human life, so his ideas were compatible with Christian beliefs.

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How did the Church influence medicine?

• The Church controlled the teaching in universities.
• This meant Galen’s ideas continued to be followed and believed.
• This helped to encourage doctors to pursue natural causes and treatments of disease.
• Questioning Galen wasn't encouraged.

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The Church's role in medicine

• People within the Church believed that it was their duty to help people who needed it.
• This included health care provided at monasteries, often by monks.
• Priests would pray for people who were ill.

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How did the Church help medicine?

• The Church was the only source of help for many sick people. The care provided was free.
• Monks copied out the works of Galen and
Hippocrates. This was important in preserving their work and allowing their ideas to later be developed and challenged.

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How did the Church's influence limit progress?

• The Church limited the ability of doctors to challenge or question the ideas of ancient doctors.
• Many treatments were based on the belief that God caused disease and that prayer could provide a cure for any illness.

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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Why did the Church support Galen's ideas?

Back

He believed that a greater being had created human life, so his ideas were compatible with Christian beliefs.

Card 3

Front

How did the Church influence medicine?

Back

Card 4

Front

The Church's role in medicine

Back

Card 5

Front

How did the Church help medicine?

Back

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Christianity and mediaeval medicine