1. Medicine Stands Still- Medieval time (1066-1485)

Question 1

What were the main causes of disease in medieval medicine?

Answer 1

The causes were largely believed to be supernatural (e.g., punishment from God, evil spirits) or natural (e.g., imbalance of the four humours, miasma or bad air).

Question 2

What is the theory of the four humours?

Answer 2

The four humours theory was that the body contained four fluids—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Disease was thought to be caused by an imbalance of these humours.

Question 3

How did Hippocrates influence medieval medicine?

Answer 3

Hippocrates is often called the “Father of Medicine.” His theory of the four humours and the idea that disease had natural causes influenced medieval doctors, who used it as a basis for diagnosis and treatment.

Question 4

Name 5 ways that Hippocrates impacted medicine

Answer 4

Here are five ways that Hippocrates impacted medicine:

1. The Hippocratic Oath
   One of Hippocrates’ most enduring legacies is the Hippocratic Oath, which is still relevant in modern medicine. It set ethical standards for medical practice, emphasizing principles like patient confidentiality, non-maleficence (do no harm), and the duty to provide care to all patients, regardless of their social status.
2. The Theory of the Four Humours
   Hippocrates proposed that health was governed by the balance of four bodily fluids (humours): blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. While the humoral theory is no longer accepted, it shaped early medical understanding and practice. Treatments like bloodletting and purging were based on the idea that imbalances in these humours caused illness.
3. Clinical Observation and Diagnosis
   Hippocrates emphasized the importance of careful observation and diagnosing based on symptoms rather than superstitions or divine intervention. He encouraged physicians to study the patient’s lifestyle, environment, and medical history to understand the causes of illness and to develop more effective treatments.
4. Natural Causes of Disease
   Hippocrates argued that diseases were caused by natural factors such as environmental conditions, diet, and lifestyle, rather than by supernatural forces or punishment from the gods. This was a revolutionary shift away from religious explanations and helped to lay the foundation for a more scientific approach to medicine.
5. Humane Treatment of Patients
   Hippocrates stressed the importance of treating patients with kindness, respect, and empathy. He believed that a doctor should not only focus on the physical symptoms but also consider the psychological and emotional well-being of the patient. This approach made medicine more compassionate and patient-centered, an idea that continues to be a core value in modern healthcare.

Question 5

What impact did Hippocrates’ ideas have in the medieval period?

Answer 5

Hippocrates’ ideas about disease being natural, rather than supernatural, were important during the medieval period. His teachings influenced medieval medicine, although the understanding of disease was still limited.

Question 6

What did Galen contribute to medieval medicine?

Answer 6

Galen expanded on Hippocrates’ ideas and introduced the concept of opposites—treating diseases with the opposite of the symptom (e.g., cold to treat a fever). He also developed the theory of the humours and wrote extensively on anatomy and surgery.

Question 7

Give me 5 ways galen influenced medicine and your over conclusion

Answer 7

1. The Theory of the Four Humours
   Like Hippocrates, Galen expanded on the concept of the Four Humours (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) and their role in human health.
2. Dissections and Animal Anatomy
   Galen performed dissections on animals, especially pigs and monkeys, as human dissection was not permitted in ancient Rome. Although his findings were not always accurate for human anatomy, his detailed descriptions of organs, muscles, and the circulatory system remained the basis of medical knowledge in Europe for centuries.
3. The Importance of Observation and Experimentation
   Galen was one of the first to advocate for careful observation and experimentation in the study of medicine. He believed in testing treatments and closely observing patients’ symptoms to understand the effects of disease.
4. The Development of Surgical Techniques
   Galen made significant contributions to surgery, especially in the treatment of wounds and fractures. He was one of the first to use sutures to close wounds and to describe techniques for repairing broken bones.
5. Medical Texts and Education
   Galen’s works were highly influential for centuries, with his medical texts being used as the standard reference. His comprehensive writings on anatomy, physiology, and disease management became the cornerstone of medical education in Europe, remaining widely studied until the Renaissance.
   CONCLUSION:Galen’s impact on medicine was profound, with his theories and practices forming the foundation of medical knowledge for over a millennium. Despite some inaccuracies (such as his ideas about anatomy), his work was revered for its intellectual rigor and continued to influence medical science for many centuries.

Question 8

How was a medieval doctor trained?

Answer 8

Medieval doctors often trained at universities, learning classical texts by Hippocrates and Galen. They also observed patients and learned through apprenticeship. There was no formal hands-on training in anatomy due to religious restrictions.

Question 9

What were medieval beliefs about the causes of illness?

Answer 9

Illness was believed to be caused by either supernatural factors (e.g., God’s punishment, evil spirits) or natural factors (e.g., imbalance of the humours, miasma, or bad air).

Question 10

What role did the Church play in medieval medicine? Name 2 things

Answer 10

1. The Church had a significant role in medieval medicine, as it controlled much of medical knowledge and training.
2. The Church believed disease was often a punishment from God and had influence over hospitals, monasteries, and the treatment of the sick.

Question 11

How did Christianity influence medieval medical beliefs?

Answer 11

Christianity emphasized prayer and divine intervention as treatments for illness. The Church also promoted caring for the poor and sick, often providing care in monasteries and religious hospitals.

Question 12

What was the role of monasteries in medieval medicine?

Answer 12

Monasteries were centers of care for the sick. Monks and nuns often ran hospitals, and many of them preserved medical knowledge through the copying of texts and the use of herbal remedies.

Question 13

What were medieval hospitals like?

Answer 13

Medieval hospitals were often run by the Church. They focused more on spiritual care and prayer than medical treatment, and patients were treated with simple herbal remedies. They also provided shelter for the poor and sick.

Question 14

How did Islamic medicine influence medieval Europe?

Answer 14

Islamic scholars preserved and expanded upon Greek and Roman medical knowledge, particularly the work of Galen and Hippocrates. They advanced surgery, pharmacology, and the study of anatomy. This knowledge was translated into Latin and became available to medieval European doctors.

Question 15

What contributions did Islamic scholars make to surgery?

Answer 15

Islamic surgeons, like Al-Zahrawi, developed advanced surgical techniques, including the use of catheters, surgical instruments, and methods of cauterization. They also wrote detailed medical texts that influenced European practices.

Question 16

Can you give me 5 examples of the impact of islamic medicine and a conclusion?

Answer 16

1. Preserving Ancient Knowledge
   Islamic scholars translated ancient Greek and Roman medical books (like those by Hippocrates and Galen) into Arabic. This helped preserve important medical knowledge that might have been lost in Europe during the Middle Ages.
2. New Medical Ideas
   Avicenna (Ibn Sina) wrote a famous medical book, the “Canon of Medicine”, which became the main medical textbook in both the Islamic world and Europe for centuries. He included detailed descriptions of diseases, treatments, and medicines.
3. Building Hospitals (Bimaristans)
   Islamic hospitals, called Bimaristans, were places where patients could receive treatment, and doctors could study and teach. These hospitals were well-organized and provided care to everyone, including the poor.
4. Surgical Advancements
   Al-Zahrawi (a famous Islamic surgeon) invented many new surgical tools and techniques. He wrote a medical book that taught doctors how to perform surgeries like removing cataracts (eye surgery) and stitching wounds.
5. Medicines and Drugs
   Islamic doctors used plants and other substances to make medicines. Al-Razi (Rhazes) was an important figure in early chemistry and pharmacology and made key discoveries about how to prepare and use medicines.
   Summary:
   Islamic medicine helped preserve and expand knowledge from earlier civilizations, created new ideas in medicine and surgery, improved hospitals, and made advances in pharmacology. Many of these ideas influenced medicine in both the Islamic world and Europe.

Question 17

What did Islamic medicine teach about the treatment of disease?

Answer 17

Islamic medicine emphasized the importance of hygiene, diet, and exercise. Doctors like Avicenna also developed a comprehensive understanding of the causes of disease, combining humoral theory with the idea of contagion.

Question 18

What was medieval surgery like?

Answer 18

Surgery was basic and often dangerous. Procedures like bloodletting, trepanation (drilling holes in the skull), and amputations were common, though they were often performed by barber-surgeons rather than university-trained doctors.

Question 19

What was the role of barber-surgeons in medieval medicine?

Answer 19

Barber-surgeons performed practical medical procedures such as bloodletting, tooth extraction, and minor surgery. They were skilled but did not receive university training in medicine.

Question 20

How were wounds treated in medieval surgery?

Answer 20

Wounds were treated with basic antiseptic methods, such as cleaning with alcohol, and herbs for pain relief. Surgery often relied on cauterization to stop bleeding.

Question 21

What were medieval public health conditions like?

Answer 21

Public health in medieval towns was poor. Waste disposal, clean drinking water, and sanitation were limited. Public baths were common, but overcrowding and poor hygiene contributed to the spread of disease.

Question 22

How were public health issues dealt with in medieval monasteries?

Answer 22

Monasteries had relatively good hygiene compared to towns, with clean water, latrines, and often gardens growing herbs for medicinal use. However, they were still impacted by the lack of advanced medical knowledge.

Question 23

. What was the role of physicians in towns?

Answer 23

Physicians in towns were educated at universities and followed Galen’s teachings. They treated wealthier patients, often prescribing herbal remedies and bloodletting. They did not have the resources to combat epidemics effectively.

Question 24

What were the public health challenges in medieval towns?

Answer 24

Overcrowding, lack of sanitation, contaminated water, and poor nutrition contributed to poor health in medieval towns. Diseases like the plague spread rapidly due to these conditions.

Question 25

How did the Black Death spread in medieval Europe?

Answer 25

The Black Death was spread by fleas on rats, which were common in the overcrowded, unsanitary conditions of medieval towns. Trade routes helped the disease spread quickly across Europe.

Question 26

What were medieval beliefs about the causes of the Black Death?

Answer 26

The Black Death was spread by fleas on rats, which were common in the overcrowded, unsanitary conditions of medieval towns. Trade routes helped the disease spread quickly across Europe.

Question 27

What were medieval beliefs about the causes of the Black Death?

Answer 27

Medieval people believed the Black Death was caused by supernatural factors like God’s wrath or alignment of the planets. Some also believed it was caused by bad air (miasma).

Question 28

What were the symptoms of the Black Death?

Answer 28

Symptoms included fever, chills, vomiting, swelling of the lymph nodes (buboes), and dark patches on the skin. It was often fatal within days.

Question 29

How was the Black Death treated?

Answer 29

Treatments included prayers, flagellation (self-punishment), and herbal remedies. Bloodletting was also used, although it was ineffective. Some people sought to avoid the disease by fleeing or isolating themselves.

Question 30

What were the preventive measures for the Black Death?

Answer 30

People attempted to avoid the Black Death by fleeing from infected areas, quarantining the sick, and wearing protective clothing like masks. Some believed that carrying flowers or herbs could protect against the disease.

Question 31

What role did the Church play during the Black Death?

Answer 31

The Church’s response was often spiritual, offering prayers and penance. Some clergy saw the plague as a punishment from God, while others tried to help the sick.

Question 32

How did the Black Death impact medieval society?

Answer 32

The Black Death decimated the population, causing labor shortages, economic collapse, and social upheaval. It also led to a questioning of traditional religious beliefs and medical practices.

Question 33

What was the significance of Islamic medicine in Europe during the medieval period?

Answer 33

Islamic medicine provided more advanced treatments, including surgery and the understanding of contagious diseases, which eventually influenced European medical practices when these ideas were translated into Latin.

Question 34

How did medieval doctors diagnose disease?

Answer 34

Doctors used methods like examining the patient’s urine (urine charts), checking the pulse, and observing symptoms to diagnose diseases, but their understanding of illness was still primitiv

Question 35

What role did astrology play in medieval medicine?

Answer 35

Astrology played a significant role, as medieval doctors believed that the positions of the planets and stars could influence a person’s health. Treatment was sometimes based on astrological charts.

Question 36

What was the medieval approach to hygiene and cleanliness?

Answer 36

Hygiene in the medieval period was limited. People bathed occasionally in public baths, but personal cleanliness was not a priority. In many towns, the poor lived in crowded conditions without access to clean water or sanitation.

Question 37

How did medieval people try to prevent the spread of disease?

Answer 37

People used a variety of methods to prevent disease, including avoiding contaminated water, quarantining the sick, carrying herbs or flowers (believing they would ward off bad air), and prayer. However, these methods were not scientifically effective

Question 38

What was the significance of medieval hospitals?

Answer 38

Medieval hospitals, often run by the Church, were more focused on spiritual care than on treating physical illnesses. They provided shelter for the poor and sick, but medical care was limited to basic remedies, often involving herbal treatments.

Question 39

How did the Black Death affect the development of medicine in Europe?

Answer 39

The Black Death led to an increased demand for medical knowledge, but it also caused widespread fear and confusion. Some questioned traditional religious and medical practices, which eventually contributed to a slow but steady development of new medical theories

Question 40

What were the beliefs about the prevention of the Black Death?

Answer 40

People believed that fleeing infected areas, wearing protective clothing, and carrying aromatic herbs could prevent the disease. Others relied on religious acts, such as prayers or processions, to ward off the plague.

Question 41

What was the role of herbal remedies in medieval medicine?

Answer 41

Herbal remedies were a key part of medieval medicine. Doctors and apothecaries used plants like lavender, mint, and sage to treat a variety of conditions. Many remedies were passed down from ancient texts and Islamic medicine.

Question 42

What was the medieval understanding of the human body?

Answer 42

The human body was understood through the theory of the four humours. Dissections of human bodies were rare due to Church restrictions, so anatomical knowledge was limited and based on the writings of ancient Greek and Roman doctors, particularly Galen.

Question 43

How did medieval medicine differ from modern medicine?

Answer 43

Medieval medicine was based on religious and ancient Greek and Roman theories, with little understanding of germs, bacteria, or the circulatory system. Treatments often involved prayer, herbal remedies, and bloodletting, whereas modern medicine is based on scientific research and medical advancements.

Question 44

What was the significance of the work of Avicenna in medieval medicine?

Answer 44

Avicenna (Ibn Sina) wrote “The Canon of Medicine,” a major medical text that summarized much of Islamic medical knowledge. This book became a key source for European medical schools and influenced medieval European doctors for centuries.

Question 45

How did medieval medicine stagnate?

Answer 45

Medieval medicine stagnated due to a reliance on outdated theories (like the four humours), religious influence that prevented scientific experimentation, and limited access to new knowledge. It wasn’t until the Renaissance that medical knowledge began to advance more rapidly.

Question 46

When was the medieval period?

Answer 46

1066-1485