Renaissance

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Overview: What was the main feature of Renaissance ideas about disease?

Mix of change and continuity; new ideas emerged but old ideas still dominated

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Overview: Why was progress limited in understanding disease?

New ideas existed but no one found the true cause and old ideas remained dominant

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Four Humours: How did views on the Four Humours change?

Some scientists like Sydenham and Paracelsus rejected it

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Four Humours: How did views on the Four Humours stay the same?

Most physicians still believed in it and used it (e.g. Charles II)

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Miasma: Did belief in miasma continue?

Yes, it remained a key explanation, especially during the Great Plague

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Religion: How did religion change?

Less influence due to Reformation

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Religion: How did religion continue?

People still believed disease was punishment from God (e.g. Great Plague)

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Supernatural: How did supernatural beliefs change?

Fewer people believed in witchcraft and superstition

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Astrology: Did astrology continue?

Yes, planets were blamed for the Great Plague

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – New Ideas: What did Fracastoro suggest?

Seeds in the air could spread disease

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – New Ideas: What did Sydenham promote?

Observation of patients instead of relying on books

Ideas about the Cause of Disease – Medical Thinking: Why did old ideas still dominate?

They were respected and widely taught

Continuity: Give one example of continuity in Renaissance causes of disease

Continued belief in Four Humours and miasma

Change: Give one example of change in Renaissance causes of disease

New scientific thinking and observation

No Heading: Why was there little progress in causes of disease?

Old ideas dominated and no correct cause was discovered

Scientific Revolution – Royal Society: When was it founded?

1660

Scientific Revolution – Royal Society: What were its aims?

Experiment, share ideas, challenge old theories

Scientific Revolution – Royal Society: Why was it important?

Spread new ideas through publications

Scientific Revolution – Royal Society: What was Philosophical Transactions?

A scientific journal publishing discoveries

Scientific Revolution – Impact: Did it immediately improve medicine?

No, it had little short-term impact

Scientific Revolution – Sydenham: What did Sydenham argue?

Doctors should observe patients, not rely on books

Scientific Revolution – Sydenham: What did he think about the Four Humours?

He said they were wrong

Scientific Revolution – Sydenham: What idea did he introduce?

Diseases should be classified into types

Scientific Revolution – Sydenham: What treatments did he introduce?

Quinine for malaria, iron for anaemia

Scientific Revolution – Sydenham: What was his limitation?

Still believed disease was caused by air

Treatment of Disease – Overview: What was the main feature of treatment?

Large continuity with some new ideas

Treatment of Disease – Chemical Treatments: What was iatrochemistry?

Use of chemicals to treat disease

Treatment of Disease – Chemical Treatments: Give an example

Mercury used for smallpox (harmful)

Treatment of Disease – Herbal Remedies: Did herbal remedies continue?

Yes, remained popular

Treatment of Disease – Four Humours: Did bleeding and purging continue?

Yes, widely used

Treatment of Disease – New World: What impact did exploration have?

New remedies like quinine

Treatment of Disease – Religious: Did religious treatments continue?

Yes, e.g. royal touch and prayer

Treatment of Disease – Supernatural: Did supernatural treatments continue?

Yes, charms and magic

Treatment of Disease – Transference: What was transference?

Moving illness to another object (e.g. onion)

Continuity: Give one example of continuity in treatment

Bleeding and purging continued

Change: Give one example of change in treatment

Chemical treatments introduced

Prevention of Disease – Overview: What was the main feature of prevention?

Mostly continuity with some improvements

Prevention of Disease – Miasma: How did people try to prevent miasma?

Cleaning streets, draining bogs

Prevention of Disease – Regimen Sanitatis: Did it continue?

Yes, advice on healthy living

Prevention of Disease – Lifestyle: What new ideas developed?

Moderation (avoid excess food, drink, laziness)

Prevention of Disease – Supernatural: Did superstition continue?

Yes, charms and prayer

Prevention of Disease – Change: What new prevention method developed?

Avoiding infected areas and monitoring weather

Continuity: Give one example of continuity in prevention

Belief in miasma and prayer

Change: Give one example of change in prevention

Cleaning environments to remove bad air

Care and Hospitals – Overview: What changed in hospitals?

More focus on treatment not just care

Care and Hospitals – Dissolution: What was the impact of the Dissolution of Monasteries?

Many hospitals closed

Care and Hospitals – Hospitals: What replaced monasteries?

Smaller charity hospitals

Care and Hospitals – Specialist Hospitals: What were they?

Pest houses for infectious diseases

Care and Hospitals – Care: Where were most people treated?

At home

Continuity: Give one example of continuity in care

Most people still treated at home

Change: Give one example of change in care

Specialist hospitals introduced

Key Individuals – Vesalius: What did Vesalius do?

Studied anatomy through human dissection

Key Individuals – Vesalius: What did he discover?

Found over 300 mistakes in Galen’s work

Key Individuals – Vesalius: Why was he important?

Encouraged dissection and challenged tradition

Key Individuals – Vesalius: What was his limitation?

Did not improve treatment

Key Individuals – Harvey: What did Harvey discover?

Blood circulation

Key Individuals – Harvey: What did he prove wrong?

Galen’s ideas about blood

Key Individuals – Harvey: Why was he important?

Encouraged experimentation and scientific methods

Key Individuals – Harvey: What was his limitation?

Little immediate impact on treatment

Key Individuals – Paracelsus: What did he believe?

Chemicals could cure disease

Key Individuals – Paracelsus: What did he say about Galen?

He rejected Galen’s ideas

Great Plague – Overview: When did it occur?

1665

Great Plague – Overview: How many died?

About 100,000 in London

Great Plague – Causes: What did people believe caused it?

Miasma, God, astrology, humours

Great Plague – New Idea: What new idea appeared?

Disease could be passed person to person

Great Plague – Treatment: What treatments were used?

Bleeding, herbal remedies, transference, prayer

Great Plague – Prevention: What actions did the government take?

Quarantine, closed theatres, killed animals

Great Plague – Prevention: What did individuals do?

Carry herbs, smoke tobacco, pray

Continuity: How was the Great Plague similar to the Black Death?

Same beliefs about cause and treatment

Change: How was the Great Plague different?

More government action and quarantine

Factors Affecting Progress – Church: How did the Church help progress?

Less control allowed challenges to Galen

Factors Affecting Progress – Church: How did it still limit progress?

People still believed religious explanations

Factors Affecting Progress – Science and Technology: How did it help?

New discoveries, microscope, printing press

Factors Affecting Progress – Science and Technology: What was the limitation?

Little immediate impact on treatment

Factors Affecting Progress – Government: How did government help?

Supported Royal Society

Factors Affecting Progress – Government: How did it hinder progress?

Dissolution reduced hospitals

Factors Affecting Progress – Tradition: How did tradition limit progress?

People continued to trust Galen

Factors Affecting Progress – Individuals: Why were individuals important?

They challenged ideas and made discoveries

No Heading: Why was there limited progress in the Renaissance?

Old ideas persisted and new discoveries had little immediate impact

No Heading: Give one example of continuity across the Renaissance

Continued belief in miasma

No Heading: Give one example of change across the Renaissance

Growth of scientific thinking

No Heading: Overall, was there progress in Renaissance medicine?

Limited short-term progress but important long-term developments