Health and people: c.1000-present (ii)

Following the Medieval period, Europe underwent a profound rebirth. Texts from the distant past which had survived through the intervening years found a new popularity in the age of the Renaissance. The medical writing of Galen is one example.

Galen's writing had offered fresh approaches to physiology. However, many of his theories were fiercely debated. Thinkers such as Servetus, Caeselpino and William Harvey went on to prove and disprove aspects of the circulation of blood.

During the dark ages, the church took much of the responsibility of providing care for the sick, if not exactly medical in nature. However, charities, city councils and the state began to assume these roles and this led to the building of hospitals.

In the year 1665, a great plague broke out in London. Dogs and cats were slaughtered as they were believed responsible for the spread of the epidemic. The great fire of 1666 helped to rid the city of the plague.

Many of the treatments of the early renaissance were still mired in false beliefs. People believed that bad smells brought disease, so carried sweet herbs to stay healthy. John Hunter was one of the first to recognise the importance of ventilation.

These flashcards will help to revise the important facts from this course. Key terms, thinkers and ideas such as the Royal Hospitals, Andreas Vesalius, inoculation, vaccination and ventilation are explained here.

Here are twelve questions to help in your revision of the material covered within this course. These questions cover topics such as the importance of Galen to modern medicine as well as the many changes of the enlightenment.