Medieval medicine and the Black Death (medicine through time) Flashcards
What were the main medieval beliefs about the causes of disease?
• Miasma Theory – Bad air caused illness.
• Four Humours – Imbalance of blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile.
• God’s Punishment – Disease was seen as divine punishment for sin.
• Astrology – The alignment of planets affected health.
How did medieval people treat illness?
• Bloodletting – Using leeches or cutting veins to balance humours.
• Herbal Remedies – Plants and spices were used as medicine.
• Prayer and Pilgrimages – Seeking divine healing.
• Purging – Making people vomit or use laxatives to remove “bad humours.”
How did the Church influence medicine in the Middle Ages?
• Controlled medical education, supporting Galen’s theories.
• Encouraged prayer and religious healing.
• Set up hospitals run by monks and nuns, focusing on care rather than cures.
• Discouraged dissection, limiting medical progress.
What was the Black Death?
A deadly plague that swept through Europe, killing 30-60% of the population.
Types of plague
• Bubonic plague – Spread by fleas on rats, caused swelling (buboes).
• Pneumonic plague – Airborne, attacked the lungs, highly contagious.
What did medieval people believe caused the Black Death?
• Punishment from God.
• Bad air (miasma).
• Unusual planetary alignments.
What really caused the black death?
Fleas carried bacteria (Yersinia pestis) from infected rats.
How did people try to cure the Black Death?
• Praying and flagellation (whipping themselves for God’s forgiveness).
• Carrying herbs and posies to purify the air.
• Bloodletting and lancing buboes.
• Quarantine – Some towns closed their gates.
What were the effects of the Black Death?
• Population decline – Up to 50% of people died in some areas.
• Economic impact – Shortage of workers led to higher wages.
• Weakened Church authority – Priests died, people questioned religious explanations.
• Changes in feudalism – Peasants gained more power due to labor shortages.
