War, superstitions/religion, chance, government, communication, science/technology + role of individual.
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Four Humours
Suggested cause of illness; unbalanced. Phlegm, blood, black bile and yellow bile.
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Theory of opposites
Treat the unbalanced of the four humours, e.g. hot pepper to cure a cold.
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Bloodletting
Blood removed from vein (cut/leeches) Common - believed to treat illness.
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Astrology
Study of the planets/effects of humans (supernatural belief could cause illness).
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Barber-surgeon
Untrained surgeon who would cut people's hair and perform basic surgery such as blood-letting and amputations. Learned by apprenticeship to surgeon.
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Dark Ages
Period after the Romans left Britain where lots of knowledge was lost (many books and libraries destroyed).
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Monastery
A building where monks live and pray. Had better public health than towns; were quite wealthy, in isolation places, had lavatoriums for washing, + monks bathed regularly for religious reasons.
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Manuscript
Handwritten book/document (often written by monks in medieval period).
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Pilgrimage
A journey to a religious shrine/relics to show a love for God/be forgiven for their sins (believed to cure illness).
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Crusades
Series of wars fought between Christians and Muslims - spread medical ideas.
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Caliph
Ruler of the Islamic Empire. Provided peace and order needed for progress.
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Islam
Religion encouraged medical learning - believed 'for every disease, Allah has also given a cure'. Science encouraged.
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Cesspits
Hole beneath toilet, sewage collected. Cleaned out annually by gong farmers. But could pollute local rivers/wells.
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Trepanning
Cutting a hole in the skull to release evil spirits causing headaches.
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Dissection
Cutting open dead body to learn about it.
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Cauterisation
Burning wound to stop flow of blood in surgery - usually with heated iron.
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Public Health
The health of the population as a whole, sometimes promoted by government.
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Epidemic
A widespread outbreak of disease.
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Bubonic/Pneumonic plague
Bubonic spread by fleas, caused buboes (lumps) on body. Pneumonic more deadly, infected lungs, spread by contact with victim's blood/breath.
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Yersinia pestis
Bacteria which lived in fleas which lived on blood of rats. Caused bubonic plague.
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Black Death
Caused blamed on planets/Jews/miasma/God. Spread by filth/overcrowding.
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Quarantine
Keeping people in one place to avoid spreading disease. Councils ordered it.
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Superstition
Irrational beliefs (not based on science) e.g. believing astrology caused disease.
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Flagellant
Person who whipped themselves to show God they repented for their sins and wanted to be shown mercy (Black Death)
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Miasma
'Bad air' blamed for spreading disease
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Impact of Black Death
Killed at least 1/3 of population. Led to food shortages (not enough peasants to farm) and starvation. Inflation occurred and priests were criticised for desertion.
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Wise-Women
A female healer who used magic or herbal remedies to cure illness. Often passed ideas down generations.
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Apothecaries
A medieval pharmacy/chemist who sold herbal remedies (medicine from plants).
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The Medieval Church - Roman Catholic
Church was very important in everyone's daily lives - believed God caused/cured disease. The Church ran many hospitals and provided care, but forbid dissection or people challenging Galen's ideas so hindered progress in medicine.
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Anatomy
The structure of the human body.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Suggested cause of illness; unbalanced. Phlegm, blood, black bile and yellow bile.
Back
Four Humours
Card 3
Front
Treat the unbalanced of the four humours, e.g. hot pepper to cure a cold.
Back
Card 4
Front
Blood removed from vein (cut/leeches) Common - believed to treat illness.
Back
Card 5
Front
Study of the planets/effects of humans (supernatural belief could cause illness).
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