The contribution of Christianity to medicine

Why was the church so powerful and influential during the Middle Ages?

It was the main religion in Western Europe

What did religion have an influence in?

The decisions of kings and emperors, as well as advising all people on how they should live

What did the Catholic Church have a role in in medicine?

Training doctors and providing healthcare in infirmaries and monasteries

Why did the church support Galen?

He believed that a higher power created life and his ideas were compatible with Christian beliefs

Why were Galen’s ideas so long lasting?

The church controlled teaching in universities so Galen’s ideas continued to be taught, supported and followed. In contrast, the church discouraged people to question Galen’s ideas

What was palliative care?

Ensuring that the ill are comfortable and caring for symptoms rather than treating the disease itself)

What type of care did the church follow?

Palliative care

Why did the church support healthcare?

They believed that it was their duty to help people who needed it

Who funded hospitals?

Wealthy patrons or the church

How many hospitals were opened between 1000 and 1500 AD?

700 hospitals in England

What was the function of a hospital?

As a centre of rest so that people could recover in quiet and clean surroundings - most were run by nuns or monks

How did the church support Hippocrates and Galen’s ideas?

They respected the ideas, leading the general population to follow their lead, and many monks copied out the textbooks thus studying their ideas

What were the types of hospitals available?

Asylums for the mentally ill, monasteries had dormitories and infirmaries, while a few larger hospitals existed

How did the church negatively impact medicine?

It discouraged medical exploration or questioning the ideas of both Hippocrates and Galen (which was bad as their ideas weren’t completely factually correct), as well as believing that illness was a punishment of sin or a test of faith (which led Christians to only care for patients rather than treat them), some hospitals restricted their patient numbers to 12 as this was the number of Jesus’ disciples for religious piety, many hospitals relied on monks or nuns rather than doctors, and hospitals largely relied on outside wealth for funding (so there was no financial assurance)