Option 11: c1250–c1500: Medicine in medieval England - 1 Ideas about the cause of disease and illness — Edexcel GCSE History
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Option 11: c1250–c1500: Medicine in medieval England - 1 Ideas about the cause of disease and illness explained
In medieval England (c1250–c1500), supernatural and religious explanations dominated understandings of disease.
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The Catholic Church taught that illness was a punishment from God for sin, or a test of faith, which discouraged the search for natural cures. The Devil and evil spirits were also blamed for causing sickness. Furthermore, supernatural explanations included astrology; the alignment of planets and stars was believed to influence health, especially during epidemics like the Black Death. Physicians routinely consulted star charts to diagnose patients. These explanations were deeply ingrained, heavily promoted by the Church, and provided a framework that made sense of sudden illness in the absence of scientific knowledge.
Rational explanations: the Theory of the Four Humours and the miasma theory; the continuing influence in England of Galen.
Medieval medicine also relied on rational explanations, primarily the Theory of the Four Humours and miasma theory. Developed by Hippocrates, the humoral theory posited that the body contained four liquids (blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile); illness occurred when these were unbalanced. Galen expanded this with his 'Theory of Opposites', suggesting treatments to restore balance, like using a cold remedy for a fever. Galen's continuing influence in England was immense because his design-focused ideas fitted Christian teachings, leading the Church to promote his texts. Additionally, the miasma theory explained disease as being caused by 'bad air' filled with harmful smells from decaying matter, prompting early public health efforts.
Your focus
- Describe the religious explanations for the cause of disease in medieval England.
- Explain the role of astrology as a supernatural cause of illness.
- Analyse the impact of the Church's teachings on the understanding of disease.
Show all 6 objectives
- Explain the principles of the Theory of the Four Humours and the miasma theory.
- Describe Galen's Theory of Opposites and its application to medieval medicine.
- Analyse the reasons for the continuing influence of Galen's ideas in medieval England.
Option 11: c1250–c1500: Medicine in medieval England - 1 Ideas about the cause of disease and illness exam tips
Marking Points
- Explain the religious belief that disease was a punishment from God for sinful behaviour.
- Describe the role of the Devil and demons in supernatural explanations of illness.
- Explain how astrology and the alignment of planets were used to explain the cause of disease.
- Discuss the influence of the Catholic Church in promoting and maintaining these religious explanations.
- Connect these beliefs to the lack of progress in finding natural causes for diseases.
- Define the Theory of the Four Humours (blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile) and the concept of imbalance causing disease.
- Explain the miasma theory as the belief that disease was transmitted by bad air or foul smells.
- Describe Galen's contribution, specifically the Theory of Opposites used to treat humoral imbalances.
- Explain why Galen's influence continued in England, focusing on the Church's endorsement of his ideas.
- Recognise that these 'rational' theories were logical based on the observations of the time, despite being scientifically incorrect.
Examiner Tips
- 💡When discussing the Church's influence, mention how it controlled medical learning and discouraged dissection.
- 💡Use the Black Death as a prime example of when religious and astrological explanations were heavily relied upon.
- 💡Remember that 'supernatural' covers both divine intervention (God/Devil) and cosmic forces (astrology).
- 💡Use the term 'rational' to describe theories based on observation and logic, contrasting them with supernatural beliefs.
- 💡When explaining Galen's influence, always link it to the power of the Catholic Church and its control over education.
- 💡Be prepared to explain how the Theory of the Four Humours linked to the seasons and elements.
Common Mistakes
- Error: Confusing supernatural explanations with rational ones like the Four Humours. Correction: Clearly distinguish between religious/astrological causes (supernatural) and humoral/miasma theories (rational).
- Error: Stating that people only believed in religious causes. Correction: Acknowledge that people often held both religious and rational beliefs simultaneously.
- Error: Ignoring the role of astrology. Correction: Include astrology as a key supernatural explanation, noting its use by trained physicians.
- Error: Attributing the original Theory of the Four Humours to Galen. Correction: State that Hippocrates created the Theory of the Four Humours, while Galen developed the Theory of Opposites.
- Error: Treating miasma as a supernatural belief. Correction: Categorise miasma as a rational explanation, as it relied on physical observation of smells and dirt.
- Error: Stating Galen was English. Correction: Clarify that Galen was a Roman physician whose texts had a continuing influence in medieval England.