Explain why there was continuity in ideas about the causes of disease during the period
c1250 – 1500.
You may use the following in your answer:
• The Church
• Galen
You must use knowledge of your own [12 marks]
The Church’s influence
– In control of education
– Wrote books
– Were trusted
– Were wealthy
Galen
– Supported by the Church
– Only scientific explanation available
– Physicians were respected
– Theory was logical explanation that couldn’t be disproved
Lack of scientific understanding
– No dissections
– Criminals’ bodies were corrupted
– Barber surgeons
– Physicians not present
There was a continuity in ideas about the cause of disease between 1250 and 1500 due to
the influence of the Church, Galen’s theory and a lack of scientific understanding.
During that period, the influence of the Church was immense. This is as religion was a vital
part of people’s lives, and people feared going to Hell in the afterlife. In addition to this, the
Church controlled education and were the publishers of books, teaching their views that
God sent disease to the sinful and to test one’s faith. This gave the people an explanation to
the cause of disease, therefore there was a continuity in ideas about the cause of disease.
Galen and Hippocrates’ Theory of the Four Humours was the only scientific explanation
available. Galen was also very highly endorsed by the Church as his theory did not disagree
with theirs, and taught and published his theory. Galen’s theory was also popular as it was a
logical explanation that could not be disproved. Physicians were well respected if they had
read the Theory of the Four Humours. This allowed the theory to be used by physicians for
many centuries, leading to a continuity in ideas about the causes of disease as it was easier
for new knowledge to fit with old theories than make new discoveries.
A lack of scientific understanding allowed there to be a continuity in ideas about the causes
of disease as there was limited anatomical knowledge available and religion or Galen’s
c1250 – 1500.
You may use the following in your answer:
• The Church
• Galen
You must use knowledge of your own [12 marks]
The Church’s influence
– In control of education
– Wrote books
– Were trusted
– Were wealthy
Galen
– Supported by the Church
– Only scientific explanation available
– Physicians were respected
– Theory was logical explanation that couldn’t be disproved
Lack of scientific understanding
– No dissections
– Criminals’ bodies were corrupted
– Barber surgeons
– Physicians not present
There was a continuity in ideas about the cause of disease between 1250 and 1500 due to
the influence of the Church, Galen’s theory and a lack of scientific understanding.
During that period, the influence of the Church was immense. This is as religion was a vital
part of people’s lives, and people feared going to Hell in the afterlife. In addition to this, the
Church controlled education and were the publishers of books, teaching their views that
God sent disease to the sinful and to test one’s faith. This gave the people an explanation to
the cause of disease, therefore there was a continuity in ideas about the cause of disease.
Galen and Hippocrates’ Theory of the Four Humours was the only scientific explanation
available. Galen was also very highly endorsed by the Church as his theory did not disagree
with theirs, and taught and published his theory. Galen’s theory was also popular as it was a
logical explanation that could not be disproved. Physicians were well respected if they had
read the Theory of the Four Humours. This allowed the theory to be used by physicians for
many centuries, leading to a continuity in ideas about the causes of disease as it was easier
for new knowledge to fit with old theories than make new discoveries.
A lack of scientific understanding allowed there to be a continuity in ideas about the causes
of disease as there was limited anatomical knowledge available and religion or Galen’s
