The Big Picture of Medicine from Roman Britain - 1350 (Roman Britain - Medieval Era) Flashcards Preview

GCSE History (Medicine and Treatment) > The Big Picture of Medicine from Roman Britain - 1350 (Roman Britain - Medieval Era) > Flashcards

Flashcards in The Big Picture of Medicine from Roman Britain - 1350 (Roman Britain - Medieval Era) Deck (12)
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1
Q

When did the Romans invade Britain?

A

49AD

2
Q

Describe the theory of the four humours.

A
  • Developed by Ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates
  • The body is made up of 4 humours - blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile
  • Too much/little (imbalance) causes disease
  • Treatment: purge excess humour. E.g. bleeding, vomiting, clearing bowels.
3
Q

Briefly describe the Roman ideas about medicine/ what they thought caused disease.

A
  • Took ideas from the Greeks - work of Hippocrates + four humours
  • Believed in gods/supernatural. Viewed disease as punishment from gods. Built temples + worshipped/asked gods to cure them.
  • Also believed bad air (miasma) caused diease. Built settlements away from swaps. People believed this until the Renaissance/Industrial Era.
4
Q

Describe the work of Galen

A
  • Was doctor to the Roman Emperor - studied work of Hippocrates
  • Followed Hippocrates’ method of clinical observation - observe patients + record symptoms
  • Believed Hippocrates’ theory of four humours
  • Adapted it to add theory of opposites to cure imbalance
  • Dissected animals and wrote books which were studied until the Renaissance.
5
Q

How important a factor was Galen’s work + what type was it?

A

Role of Individuals

Influenced medicine for more than 1500 years - both a help + hinderance

Some treatments worked, but following his work prevented further experimentation and discoveries

6
Q

Describe the Roman public health system (briefly)

A

Saw link between dirt and disease. To prevent epidemics in overcrowded towns + cities and to keep army healthy developed PH schemes.

  • Public toilets provided + sewers washed waste away from cities to nearby rivers
  • Water pipes made from lead carried clean water to towns for everyone. Towns had public fountains and public baths for washing
  • Aqueducts built to transport water from rivers + lakes to towns + cities.
7
Q

What impact did the collapse of the Roman Empire have on medicine and treatment in Britain/Europe?

A

War broke out between tribes/countries that had been part of the empire.

  • Public health systems destroyed
  • Libraries full of medical books damaged
  • Invading tribes couldn’t read Latin so not interested in education or work of Galen
  • War priority - money/taxes spent on armies not education or medicine.

The only powerful insitution that survived was the Christian Church.

8
Q

Describe the ideas about the causes of disease in the Middle Ages

A
  • Still believed Hippocrates + 4 humours as this was what Church believed. Still treated by bleeding + purging
  • Also believed in supernatural - punishment from God. Prayer as treatment
  • Also believed miasma caused disease.
9
Q

What was the influence of the Christian Church in the Middle Ages?

A
  • Taught all illness was a punishment from God. Right for that person to suffer and only God could cure them.
  • Supported Galen + Hippocrates’ work because they fitted the idea that one God created all humans
  • Monastries + convents had best libraries and some provided training for doctors. They were taught 4 humours and were not encouraged to prove Galen wrong/experiment.
10
Q

Describe (briefly) the treatment of disease in the Middle Ages

A
  • Doctors had some medical training at Church-run universities
  • Also studied urine charts and astrology to diagnose + treat.
  • Had access to leechbooks which contained a mixture of Greek and Roman ideas about medicene as well as herbal remedies.
  • Doctors only treated the rich. Most illness was dealt with at home by village healers who were usually women.
  • Doctos did not attend childbirth, women acted as midwives instead.
  • Wise women provided herbal remedies and advice on curing ailments.
  • Hospitals were places or rest + recuperation. Not for infectious or terminally ill. Usually attached to monastaries or convents.
11
Q

Describe public health and living conditions in the Middle Ages

A

Living conditions and health + hygene was very poor, especially in towns.

  • City streets covered in rubbish and animal + human waste
  • Water contaminated by other sources such as sewage and blood from butchers
  • Government laws to keep streets clean were difficult to enforce
  • Monasteries + convents healthier as they had their own public health systems with fresh water and toilets.
12
Q

What was the main factor the prevented major change in the Middle Ages (arguably)?

A

Attitudes and Beliefs:

The Church controlled medical training + knowledge