Ancient and Medieval Medicine

What the unit covers

The listed resources run from Pre-historic Medicine and Ancient Egyptian Medicine through Hippocrates, Claudius Galen and Roman public health, then on to the Middle Ages. Medieval material looks at the four humours, supernatural beliefs such as the doctrine of signature and zodiac charts, the part played by the Church, and who treated the sick.

Where to start

Begin with a broad overview. The mind map Medieval England c.1250-1500 sets out causes, treatments and preventions, and includes a Black Death case study. The Medieval medicine mind map gives key points on beliefs and treatments. If you want something to read, the notes on Medieval Ages, the Church and Courts show how Church power shaped the period.

Going deeper

• Black Death: the notes The Spread of The Black Death follow its route into Europe, and the Black Death mind map lists symptoms such as buboes.
• Public health: the mind map Public health in the middle Ages covers water, towns and animals.
• Progress: one mind map asks why there was little progress in medicine during the Medieval period.
• Disease and stigma: the leprosy mind map looks at attitudes to segregation.

Using quizzes and maps together

Read a mind map first, then test yourself. Medicine in the Middle Ages Quiz checks the four humours and ideas about divine causes. Middle Ages Medicine Quiz uses fill-in-the-blank questions. Note what you miss, go back to the matching map, and try again. Flashcard decks such as Medieval England - Explanations for Disease and Medieval England - Treatments suit short sessions.

Where it sits

This unit belongs to the Thematic Studies strand of History. Teachers can use the revision slides, such as Medieval Medicine revision slides, as a starting point for a lesson.

Choose one resource that matches your next lesson, open it, and take it from there.