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

Answer: Many people believed illnesses were caused by evil spirits, demons, or punishment from God. They thought diseases resulted from imbalances in the body's humours or divine punishment for sins, reflecting their religious and superstitious views.

Question 2: List three treatments used in Medieval medicine and briefly explain how each was believed to work.

Answer: 1. Bloodletting: Removing blood to balance the humours. 2. Herbs and herbal remedies: Using plants to cure or relieve symptoms. 3. Praying and religious rituals: Asking for divine intervention to heal the sick.

Question 3: Explain the role of the Church in Medieval medicine. How did religion influence medical practices?

Answer: The Church was a major authority on health, promoting prayer and faith as cures. Many hospitals were run by monks, and religious beliefs shaped treatments, with illness seen as divine punishment or a test of faith.

Question 4: Describe the purpose of a medieval hospital. How did hospitals differ from modern hospitals?

Answer: Medieval hospitals primarily provided care for the poor and sick, often focusing on spiritual healing alongside basic medical treatment. Unlike modern hospitals, they did not focus on curing disease but on prayer, rest, and spiritual support.

Question 5: Identify and explain two limitations of medical knowledge and treatments during the Medieval period.

Answer: 1. Lack of scientific understanding meant many treatments were ineffective or harmful. 2. Reliance on superstition and religious beliefs limited progress and prevented the development of evidence-based medicine.

Question 6: Draw a diagram of a typical medieval treatment room. Include at least three items or features that would have been found there.

Answer: A correct sketch would show a simple room with items such as a bed or cot for the patient, shelves or tables with herbal remedies, and perhaps religious symbols like a crucifix. The room would look basic and functional.

Question 7: Explain how the Four Humours theory influenced the treatments used in Medieval medicine.

Answer: The theory suggested that health depended on a balance of blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. Treatments aimed to restore this balance, often through bloodletting, purging, or herbal remedies.

Question 8: Assess the impact of the Black Death on medical knowledge and practices in Medieval Europe. Did it lead to improvements or setbacks?

Answer: The Black Death caused massive deaths and overwhelmed existing medical practices. It exposed the failures of Medieval medicine, leading to some questioning of traditional methods. However, it also reinforced superstitions and fear, hindering scientific progress for some time.