Medical Advancements During the Renaissance (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note
Exam code: 1HI0
Scientific discoveries in the Renaissance
Nearly 600 editions of Galen’s work were published in the Renaissance
Physicians did not find the answers that they were seeking
The Renaissance atmosphere encouraged the pursuit of scientific explanations for why people became ill
The development of humanism helped individuals to disprove religious explanations
People began to focus on logical causes for illness
Thomas Sydenham
Thomas Sydenham was a humanist
He believed that, if other living beings were grouped based on their characteristics, then so could diseases
Sydenham's theories stated that:
The disease causes the symptoms, not the patient
Chickenpox causes the same red bumps in everyone who has it
A patient's diet, star sign and humours did not impact symptoms or treatments
Physicians should treat the disease as a whole, not each symptom separately
He grouped diseases like animals or plants, based on shared symptoms
He showed that scarlet fever and measles were two different illnesses
Sydenham emphasised careful observation to diagnose and treat correctly
These methods shaped how doctors diagnose and record illness today
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Students tend to struggle to explain Sydenham’s impact on medicine.
Sydenham believed that the disease dictated the symptoms.
The Theory of the Four Humours argued that the person dictated the symptoms.
The printing press, medical books & medical advances
Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press c.1440
People could easily create books by using inked wood blocks pressed onto paper
The Church lost control over which books could be published
Scientists could publish and share their work much more easily
The Royal Society, medical theories & medical advances
Founded in 1660
The Royal Society was an organisation that allowed scientists from across Europe to:
Share discoveries
Discuss new ideas
In 1662, it gained the support of King Charles II, increasing its importance
In 1665, the Society began publishing Philosophical Transactions
This was the world’s first scientific journal
Worked Example
Explain one way in which ideas about the cause of illness in the years c1250-c1500 were different from ideas about the cause of illness in the years c1500-c1700
4 marks
Answers:
One way in which the ideas about the cause of illness were different from the Medieval period to the Renaissance was the influence of the Theory of the Four Humours (1). In the Medieval period, the Four Humours formed a vital part of how a physician diagnosed a patient’s illness (1), for example having too much blood could cause fever (1). However, in the Renaissance, fewer physicians believed in using the Four Humours to diagnose patients and instead looked at more scientific explanations for illness (1).
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When answering ‘Explain one way…’ questions, it is important to read if it is asking for a similarity or a difference between the two periods. For either form of the question, you get marks for identifying a similarity or difference and giving specific examples from each period.
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