Option 11: c1500–c1700: The Medical Renaissance in England - 3 Case studies ● Key individual: William Harvey and the discovery of the circulation of the blood. — Edexcel GCSE History
Test yourself on Option 11: c1500–c1700: The Medical Renaissance in England - 3 Case studies ● Key individual: William Harvey and the discovery of the circulation of the blood. with PEARSON EDEXCEL GCSE practice questions.
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Option 11: c1500–c1700: The Medical Renaissance in England - 3 Case studies ● Key individual: William Harvey and the discovery of the circulation of the blood. explained
The Great Plague of 1665 devastated London, prompting various approaches to treatment and prevention.
Read the full explanation
Treatments remained largely ineffective, relying on traditional methods like sweating out the disease, lancing buboes, and applying herbal remedies. Wealthy individuals sought physicians, while others turned to quacks. Prevention attempts were more organised than in 1348. The Mayor of London issued orders to halt the spread, including appointing searchers to identify victims, shutting infected households for 28 days with a red cross on the door, and banning public gatherings. Other preventative measures included killing cats and dogs, lighting fires in the streets to purify the miasma, and carrying pomanders.
Your focus
- Describe the various treatments attempted by people during the Great Plague of 1665.
- Explain the preventative measures implemented by the authorities in London to stop the spread of the plague.
- Analyse the extent to which approaches to the plague had changed since the Black Death.
Option 11: c1500–c1700: The Medical Renaissance in England - 3 Case studies ● Key individual: William Harvey and the discovery of the circulation of the blood. exam tips
Marking Points
- Identify specific treatments used during the Great Plague, such as lancing buboes or using herbal remedies.
- Describe the preventative measures ordered by the Mayor of London, including quarantine and the killing of animals.
- Explain the role of searchers and watchmen in enforcing quarantine measures.
- Compare the approaches to prevention in 1665 with those used during the Black Death in 1348 to highlight continuity and change.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Use specific details from the Mayor of London's orders to demonstrate precise knowledge of prevention methods.
- 💡When discussing continuity, mention that belief in miasma and the Four Humours still influenced treatments.
- 💡Be prepared to explain why prevention methods were more organised in 1665 compared to earlier outbreaks.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the Great Plague of 1665 with the Black Death of 1348. Correction: Ensure specific examples, such as the Mayor's orders and the killing of cats and dogs, are attributed to 1665.
- Stating that people knew fleas on rats caused the plague. Correction: Explain that people still believed in miasma, astrology, and divine punishment as causes.
- Claiming that treatments in 1665 were highly effective. Correction: Acknowledge that treatments were largely ineffective and focused on symptom management or incorrect theories of disease.