Question 1: Describe how medieval doctors believed illness was caused. Include at least two different explanations.

Answer: Medieval doctors believed illness was caused by supernatural forces such as evil spirits or God’s punishment, and also by imbalance of the four humours (blood, phlegm, black bile, yellow bile).

Question 2: Explain the role of the Church in medieval medicine. How did it influence medical practices?

Answer: The Church played a central role by controlling medical knowledge, establishing hospitals, and promoting the idea that prayer and religious faith were essential for healing. It also suppressed some scientific ideas that conflicted with religious teachings.

Question 3: List three treatments used in medieval medicine and describe how they were believed to work.

Answer: Bloodletting was used to balance the humours by removing blood; herbal remedies involved using plants believed to have healing properties; purging was used to cleanse the body of excess humours or evil spirits.

Question 4: Identify and explain two reasons why medieval hospitals were different from modern hospitals.

Answer: Medieval hospitals mainly provided care for the poor and sick rather than treatment; they were often more like hospices offering shelter and prayer, with limited medical treatment compared to modern hospitals.

Question 5: Describe what a medieval barber-surgeon did and how their role differed from that of a physician.

Answer: A barber-surgeon performed tasks like bloodletting, leeching, and minor surgery, often using simple tools. They lacked formal medical training, unlike physicians who studied theory and diagnosis and often worked in universities.

Question 6: Sketch a medieval apothecary’s shop. Label at least three different items or areas you include and describe their purpose.

Answer: A correct sketch would show shelves with jars of herbs, a mortar and pestle for grinding ingredients, and a scale for measuring. These items were used for preparing remedies and medicines.

Question 7: Explain the significance of the Black Death in shaping medieval medicine. What changes did it prompt?

Answer: The Black Death led to a huge loss of life and caused many to question traditional treatments. It prompted some to seek new methods, increased fear and superstition, and led to the development of quarantine practices.

Question 8: What were the four humours, and why were they important in medieval medicine?

Answer: The four humours were blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Balance among them was believed to be essential for health, so treatments aimed to restore this balance.

Question 9: Discuss how superstition influenced medical treatments during the medieval period. Provide examples.

Answer: Superstitions led to treatments like using charms, prayers, or relics for healing. For example, some believed carrying a saint’s relic could ward off disease or evil spirits.

Question 10: Describe the limitations of medieval medicine that prevented it from curing many illnesses.

Answer: Medieval medicine relied heavily on superstition, lacked scientific understanding of the human body, and had limited surgical techniques and knowledge of germs, making many diseases incurable.