The Ancient Civilisations

The Ancient Civilisations

1. Prehistoric

   • What did they believe caused disease?
     • Mostly supernatural
       • Evil spirits
     • Natural causes for obvious things- e.g broken bones
   • Who treated the sick?
     • Medicine men
     • Families- especially mothers
     • Witch Doctors
   • What treatments were used?
     • Herbs and plants
     • Trephining- skull broken- piece of bones removed to relieve headaches
   • What did they know about the body?
     • There was only knowledge of external parts of the body
   • How healthy were people?
     • People were fairly healthy, however most people died before they reached 40

2. Ancient Egyptian

   • What did they believe caused disease?
     • Many supernatural causes (e.g angry Gods)
     • 'Blocked channel' theory based on the irrigation ditches for watering crops
   • Who treated the sick?
     • Priests
     • Gods
     • Doctors
     • Families
   • What treatments were used?
     • Many people had supernatural 'lucky charms' or ammulets
     • Herbal remedies were commonly used
     • Purging to relieve 'blocked channels'
   • What did they know about the body?
     • Channels in the body
     • Very basic knowledge of bran, heart etc
       • Through embalming of bodies
   • How healthy were people?
     • People were fairly healthy
     • There was no public health, but some priests recommending washing frequently for prayer

3. Greek

   • What did they believe caused disease?
     • An imbalance of the 4 humours
     • Some supernatural causes
   • Who treated the sick?
     • Hippocratic doctors used NATURAL TREATMENTS
     • ASCLEPIONS
       • God of healing visited the sick
   • What treatments were used?
     • Herbal remedies were used to correct imbalances of the four humours
     • Prayers were made for healing to the God Asclepious
   • What did they know about the body?
     • Basic knowledge of the HEART, LUNGS AND BRAIN
     • The body had 'channels'
   • How healthy were people?
     • Majority were quite healthy
     • There were no public health systems in practice

4. Roman

   • How healthy were people?
     • Much healthier than ever before
     • Tax system meant there was public health services in every town
     • Public baths, Latrines, Fountains, Sewers, Aqueducts
   • What did they know about the body?
     • Fairly good knowledge of anatomy
   • Who treated the sick?
     • Families
     • Doctors
     • Priests
   • What treatments were used?
     • Theory of the opposites
     • Asclepions
     • Herbal remedies
   • What did they believe caused disease?
     • Imbalance of the four humours
     • Mainly natural causes