Medical Ideas
What theory stated that the body contained four key fluids that needed to remain balanced for good health?
The Four Humours
What common practice involved removing blood to restore the balance of the Four Humours?
Bloodletting
Who were often the most effective people for medical help in villages?
Wise Women
What was the name of the influential medical book written by Avicenna?
The Canon of Medicine
What did medieval Europeans often believe caused diseases as a punishment?
Sin or God's Punishment
Name a natural remedy often used for infections or illnesses in medieval medicine.
What kind of doctor also performed surgeries and cut hair?
Barber-Surgeon
How did Islamic medical knowledge reach Europe?
Through the Crusades, trade, and translations of Arabic texts.
What was the role of astrology (study of stars and planets) in medieval medicine?
People believed that the location of the stars and planets in the sky caused different illnesses and required different treatments
What animals were used in medieval bloodletting to draw out “bad blood”?
Leeches
Where did monks provide medical care during the medieval period?
Monasteries
What did Islamic hospitals (bimaristans) offer that European monasteries often did not?
Specialised wards, medical training, and a focus on cleanliness.
Which ancient Greek doctor’s writings heavily influenced medieval medical ideas?
Galen
How did medieval people try to protect themselves from the plague?
Wearing charms, carrying herbs, or relying on religious rituals.
What was one major limitation of medieval doctors?
Lack of scientific understanding about disease and infection.
How did Islamic doctors approach medicine differently from European doctors?
Islamic doctors relied on observation, experimentation, and scientific methods rather than superstition.
How did religion influence medieval approaches to health and illness?
Illness was seen as a test or punishment from God, and treatments often included prayer, pilgrimages, and relics.
What Medieval treatment do you think was the most effective and give a reason why?
Pupil response
Why were monks/nuns ineffective at providing medical treatment?
They refused to treat patients as they believed it went against God's will
Name a surgical advancement developed by Islamic doctors.
The use of surgical tools like scalpels and stitches for stitching wounds.