Medicine - Change & Continuity

How did medieval medicine change over time?

Medieval medicine changed little due to religious and superstitious beliefs. Overall, the medieval period hindered medical progress.

What were the main changes to medicine in the medieval period?

There were 2 main aspects of change for medicine during the medieval period.

• ❖ By the end of the period, there were some hospitals and a few doctors who would treat poor people.
• ❖ Although they did not do it regularly, governments started playing a role in public health, through ordering places to be cleaned.

What stayed the same for medicine during the medieval period?

There were 5 main aspects of continuity for medicine during the medieval period.

• ❖ In order to treat everyday illnesses most people still depended on the work of local healers and women in the home.
• ❖ Most people still used herbal remedies to cure diseases.
• ❖ People still believed in the Theory of the Four Humours, as the Church's influence was so strong nobody challenged ideas it supported or accepted.
• ❖ Surgery was limited as there were no effective anaesthetics. The most frequent surgeries performed were tooth extractions, bloodletting and amputations.
• ❖ Religion still played an important role in explaining why people got sick.