The Renaissance and Medicine

Renaissance (1400-1700): Meaning rebirth. A pivotal European period transitioning into modernity.

This period of time marked a shift from medieval reliance upon the Church and works of Galen creating the questioning of ancient texts and discoveries in anatomy.

From the invention of the printing press, new ideas were spread rapidly through mass production and at last undermining the Churches control over knowledge

KEY FIGURES:

*LEONARDO DA VINCI: Produced accurate anatomical drawings, reaching widespread publishing from the invention of the printing press.

ANDREAS VESALIUS: Physician who performed dissections and both challenged and corrected Galen’s errors. Revolutionised anatomy through direct study and detailed books. (The fabric of the Human Body,1543)

*AMBROISE PARÉ: Pioneering surgeon who developed wound treatment.

WILLIAM HARVEY: Providing a description of the circulation of blood.

*WILLIAM TURNER: Produced important herbal texts.

SYDENHAM: Refered to as the “English Hippocrates”. Championed a mew scientific approach: Observation Writing/Noting down and Treating. DIFFERENTIATED ILLNESS SUCH AS MEALSES AND SCARLET FEVER. PERSISTENT WITH ARGUMENTS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND OBSERVATION

^^^PRODUCED OBSERVATIONES MEDICAE IN 1676^^^

((Only really need the ones WITHOUT asterisks))

Even with the practice of medicine remaining fairly similar at the time, new ideas were brought around creating the shift of scientists challenging the authority of the Church.

This created encouragement for medical scientists to look beyond the words of both Galen and Hippocrates that were forced upon them for an extensive amount of time

Reasons for the beginning of change

PRINTING PRESS: Created in 1440 but still maintained strong impact throughout the renaissance period.

A piece of technology with the ability to produce up to 3600 pages per day: No issue following the church to dictate what was written into books as books were being produced much quicker creating something new to rely on rather than the old Church system. STANDARDISATION AND COLLABORATION: Uniform medical textbooks and collaborative education: Established a permanent record maintaing scientific inquiry and progress.

VAST SCALE OF THE PRODUCTION OF BOOKS: Books essentially becoming cheaper and less rare: Wider access towards education allowing even the general population and scholars both boosting medical knowledge and the change in old traditions from newfound knowledge.

THE ROYAL SOCIETY: Set up in 1662. Gresham College, London. A group of scientists who met together and proved and disproved upon ideas of medicine.

Their belief was to not believe things without discussion and proof in order for it to become credible: Educating society to not be dictated on belief by higher powers.

Boost of credibility by royal backing from King Charles II: Their thoughts on scientific matters and reasoning was trusted. Indicating their word was stronger than ancient texts through the fostering of scientific method: People more likely to fund scientific research due to the Society's increase in support and authority.

REASONS FOR CHANGES IN MEDICINE DURING THE RENAISSANCE (SENTENCE STARTES)

Point:

ONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN MEDICINE DURING THE RENAISSANCE WAS…

POINT:

THERE WAS CRUCIAL SHIFT TOWARDS… IN…

POINT:

….WAS A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN CHANGING MEDICAL PRACTICES DURING THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD

Evidence:

FOR EXAMPLE…THIS LEAD TO/OPENED DOORS TO…

Explain:

THEREFORE THIS EVENTUALLY CAUSED…

EVIDENCE:

THIS IS BEST EXEMPLIFIED THROUGH…

EXPLAIN:

THEREFORE THIS AIDED IN…