Year 10 History: Medicine Through Time (1200–Present) Causes, Prevention, and Treatment of Disease Across Different Periods

Introduction to Medicine Through Time

In this lesson, we will explore how medicine has changed from 1200 to the present day. We will look at the causes of diseases, how people tried to prevent them, and the treatments they used. Understanding this will help us see how medicine has evolved and why certain ideas were accepted at different times.

Key Concepts

1. Causes of Disease

Medieval Period (1200-1500)

• People believed diseases were caused by bad air (miasma) or punishment from God.
• Example: The Black Death (1347-1351) was thought to be a result of sinful behaviour.

Renaissance (1500-1700)

• More scientific ideas started to emerge.
• Example: Andreas Vesalius studied anatomy and challenged old beliefs about the body.

19th Century

• Germ theory was developed by scientists like Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch.
• They discovered that tiny germs caused diseases.

20th Century to Present

• We now understand that diseases can be caused by bacteria, viruses, genetics, and lifestyle choices.

2. Prevention of Disease

Medieval Period

• People used prayer, fasting, and herbal remedies to try to prevent illness.
• Quarantine was introduced during the Black Death.

Renaissance

• Vaccination was developed by Edward Jenner in 1796 to prevent smallpox.

19th Century

• Public health movements began to clean up cities and provide clean water.
• Example: The Public Health Act of 1848 aimed to improve sanitation.

20th Century to Present

• Vaccines and antibiotics revolutionised disease prevention and treatment.
• Health education campaigns promote healthy lifestyles.

3. Treatment of Disease

Medieval Period

• Treatments included bloodletting, herbal remedies, and prayers.
• Example: Physicians would use leeches to draw blood to balance the body’s humours.

Renaissance

• Surgery became more advanced, and hospitals began to treat patients more effectively.
• Example: Ambroise Paré improved surgical techniques.

19th Century

• Anesthesia and antiseptics made surgery safer.
• Example: Joseph Lister introduced antiseptic surgery to prevent infection.

20th Century to Present

• Modern medicine uses advanced technology like MRI scans and robotic surgeries.
• Pharmaceuticals like antibiotics treat bacterial infections.

Tips for Understanding

• Compare and Contrast: Look at how beliefs about disease changed over time.
• Use Visual Aids: Diagrams of human anatomy, timelines of medical discoveries, and photographs from different eras can help you visualise changes.
• Ask Questions: What do you think influenced changes in medicine? How do you think people felt about these changes?

Questions to Test Your Knowledge

Easy Level Questions

1. What was the main belief about the cause of disease in medieval times?
2. Who studied anatomy during the Renaissance?
3. Name one disease that was prevented by vaccination.
4. What did people use during the Black Death to try to avoid getting sick?
5. What is germ theory?
6. What did Edward Jenner develop?
7. Name one treatment used in medieval medicine.
8. What did the Public Health Act of 1848 aim to improve?
9. What was bloodletting?
10. Who introduced antiseptic surgery?

Medium Level Questions

11. How did the understanding of disease causation change from the medieval period to the 19th century?
12. What role did quarantine play during the Black Death?
13. How did surgery improve during the Renaissance?
14. Why were vaccines important in the 19th century?
15. What advancements in technology occurred in the 20th century?
16. Name a famous scientist associated with germ theory and describe their contribution.
17. How did public health movements impact cities in the 19th century?
18. What are the benefits of using anesthesia in surgery?
19. How did the role of hospitals change from the medieval period to the present day?
20. What is one example of a health education campaign today?

Hard Level Questions

21. Discuss the impact of the Black Death on medical practices in the medieval period.
22. Explain how the ideas about anatomy changed from Vesalius to modern times.
23. Compare the methods used to prevent disease in the medieval period versus today.
24. How did the invention of the microscope contribute to our understanding of disease?
25. In what ways did World War I influence medical advancements?
26. Discuss the ethical considerations involved in modern medical treatments.
27. How did social attitudes towards health change between the 19th and 20th centuries?
28. What role did government play in improving public health in the 19th century?
29. Evaluate the significance of penicillin in modern medicine.
30. How has the understanding of mental illness changed over time?

Answers

Easy Level Answers

1. Bad air (miasma) or punishment from God.
2. Andreas Vesalius.
3. Smallpox.
4. Quarantine.
5. The idea that germs cause disease.
6. The smallpox vaccine.
7. Herbal remedies or bloodletting.
8. Sanitation, clean water.
9. A method to balance humours by drawing blood.
10. Joseph Lister.

Medium Level Answers

11. From miasma and divine punishment to germs.
12. To isolate sick people and prevent the spread of disease.
13. More effective techniques and safer procedures.
14. They helped to reduce the spread of diseases.
15. Development of antibiotics and medical imaging.
16. Louis Pasteur; he showed that germs cause diseases.
17. Improved sanitation and health standards.
18. It reduced pain and improved surgical outcomes.
19. They became more focused on patient care and medical treatment.
20. Campaigns on smoking cessation or healthy eating.

Hard Level Answers

21. It led to better hygiene practices and changes in medical theories.
22. Vesalius corrected many misconceptions about human anatomy.
23. Medieval methods were more religious and superstitious, while modern methods are scientific.
24. It allowed scientists to see germs and understand their role in disease.
25. It led to advancements in surgery and trauma care.
26. Issues such as consent and the effectiveness of treatments.
27. Shift from blaming character to understanding biological and social factors.
28. They funded sanitation projects and established health regulations.
29. It was the first true antibiotic, saving many lives.
30. From stigma and punishment to a better understanding and treatment options.

This structured approach should help you understand how medicine has changed over time and prepare you for your assessments. Remember to review these concepts and think critically about how they apply to today’s world!