Disease and the Supernatural

What were the supernatural causes?

• Disease was a punishment by God for people’s sins.

• Demons and witches

• Evil spirits living inside people

• Astrology

What were the Supernatural treatments?

• Prayers

• Repentance

• Execution of witches

• Exorcisms

What were the greatest impacts of the Church?

• Banned dissection

• Produced books

• Encouraged people to believe disease was a punishment by God

  • prevented people to challenge cures

• Promoted the works of Galen

The influence of the church meant that there were very little changes in ideas about the cause of disease untill the Renaissance.

What was Astrology used for?

Diagnosing people using an almanac (a type of calendar) which included information about where particular planets and stars were at any given time.