Causes of Disease (Medieval/Middle Ages)

Question 1

Continued?

Answer 1

• The 4 humours: Galen’s work key basis - unquestioned due to the Church
• Belief of God causing disease became more prominent
• Miasma: not only bad air around water as Romans believed but all bad smells

Question 2

What was the key change in the theories of the causes of disease during the Middle Ages?

Answer 2

The ideas for the causes become more superstitious and less logical

Question 3

Why did thoughts for causes become more superstitious and less logical?

Answer 3

People were facing outbreaks of pandemic disease such as leprosy and The Black Death, caused panic and people to turn to extreme ideas in the absence of logical answers

Question 4

Superstitious causes?

Answer 4

• Different cultures were blamed; such as Jews, travellers and lepers
• Roman beliefs on astrology taken to the extreme
• Believed the earthquake on St. Paul’s day 1347 released poisonous air