Question 1: Describe the common beliefs about the causes of illness in medieval Europe. Why did people often think illnesses were caused by supernatural forces?

Answer: Many people believed illnesses were caused by supernatural forces such as evil spirits, divine punishment, or astrology. This was because of the influence of the Church and lack of scientific understanding, leading them to see disease as a result of sin or divine displeasure.

Question 2: Name two types of medical practitioners in medieval times and explain their roles.

Answer: Two types of practitioners were barber-surgeons, who performed bloodletting and minor surgeries, and herbalists, who used plants and herbs to treat ailments. Physicians, although rare, provided more formal diagnoses based on classical texts.

Question 3: Explain the significance of the Hippocratic and Galenic theories in medieval medicine. How did these ideas influence treatment?

Answer: The Hippocratic and Galenic theories emphasized the balance of the four humours (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) as the key to health. Treatments aimed to restore this balance through methods like bloodletting, purging, and diet, and these ideas dominated medieval medicine for centuries.

Question 4: List three treatments used in medieval medicine and briefly describe how they were believed to work.

Answer: 1. Bloodletting: removing blood to balance humours. 2. Herbal remedies: using plants to cure specific symptoms. 3. Prayer and pilgrimage: seeking divine intervention to heal the sick.

Question 5: Discuss the role of the Church in medieval medicine. How did it influence medical practices and beliefs?

Answer: The Church played a central role by promoting the idea that divine intervention was necessary for healing. Many hospitals were run by monks, and prayer was considered essential. The Church also controlled medical knowledge, often discouraging scientific inquiry and emphasizing spiritual healing.

Question 6: Describe the purpose of the 'miasma theory' and how it influenced medieval health practices.

Answer: The miasma theory suggested that bad air caused disease. This led to practices such as burning herbs, cleaning streets, and avoiding foul smells to prevent illness.

Question 7: Draw a simple diagram showing the four humours and how they balanced in a healthy person. Label each humour.

Answer: A diagram with four circles or sections labeled 'Blood', 'Phlegm', 'Black Bile', and 'Yellow Bile'. The diagram should illustrate that in health, these humours are in balance, whereas imbalance causes illness.

Question 8: Explain why hospitals in medieval times were different from modern hospitals.

Answer: Medieval hospitals were mainly places for prayer, rest, and spiritual healing rather than advanced medical treatment. They were often run by religious orders and focused on caring for the soul as much as the body.

Question 9: Evaluate the effectiveness of medieval medical treatments. Were they successful or not? Justify your answer.

Answer: Medieval treatments were often ineffective because they were based on incorrect theories like the humours and miasma. While some herbal remedies may have had benefits, many patients did not recover, and some treatments could be harmful. Overall, medieval medicine was limited in its effectiveness compared to modern standards.