PREHISTORIC MEDICINE

PREHISTORIC MEDICINE

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

   • PREHISTORIC MEN HUNTED INSTEAD OF GROWING CROPS
   • THERE WAS NO WRITTEN EVIDENCE
     • HISTORIANS RELIED ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE INSTEAD

2. WHAT DID PREHISTORIC MAN DIE FROM

   • WARFARE
   • PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
   • INFECTION
   • FAMINE AND FOOD SHORTAGES

3. NATURAL BELIEFS AND TREATMENTS

   • TREPHENING
     • THIS IS THE ACTION OF CUTTING HOLES IN THE PATIENTS HEAD, TO RELEASE EVIL SPIRITS
   • MEDICINE MEN- THEY WERE ABLE TO DEAL WITH SPIRITS
   • WOMEN WERE IN CHARGE OF EVERYDAY HEALTH
     • THEY KNEW ABOUT THE POWER OF HERBS
       • USED A RANGE OF SIMPLE EFFECTIVE REMEDIES BASED ON OBSERVATION AND COMMON SENSE

4. SUPERNATURAL BELIEFS AND TREATMENTS

   • PREHISTORIC PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT THEY HAD THEIR OWN SPIRIT
     • THESE EXPLAINED WHY YOU BECAME ILL
     • ALSO IF YOUR SPIRIT WAS REMOVED FROM YOUR BODY YOU COULD BECOME ILL
       • OR IF AN EVIL SPIRIT HAD ENTERED YOU WHEN SLEEPING
   • PREHISTORIC MAN WORE LUCKY CHARMS TO KEEP EVIL SPIRITS AWAY