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'The main reason why medical care and treatment was ineffective during the medieval period, c1250-1500, was because medical knowledge was based on Galen's ideas.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 5 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 5
'The main reason why medical care and treatment was ineffective during the medieval period, c1250-1500, was because medical knowledge was based on Galen's ideas.' H... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:'The main reason why medical care and treatment was ineffective during the medieval period, c1250-1500, was because medical knowledge was based on Galen's ideas.' How far do you agree? Explain your answer - Edexcel - GCSE History - Question 5 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
How far do you agree? Discuss the Theory of Opposites.
Answer
The Theory of Opposites, proposed by Galen, suggested that to treat an illness, one should apply its opposite. For example, if a patient had a fever (heat), they would be treated with something cold. While this theory may have some merit in simple cases, it often lacked empirical support, leading to ineffective treatments in many instances during the medieval period. This reliance on Galen's theory limited the development of more effective, evidence-based medical practices.
Step 2
How far do you agree? Discuss hospitals.
Answer
During the medieval period, hospitals were primarily places of refuge for the poor and sick rather than centers of medical advancement. Most hospitals operated under the guidance of religious institutions and focused on care rather than treatment. Treatments were often rudimentary, based on the prevailing medical knowledge of the time which was heavily influenced by Galen. This indicates that reliance on outdated medical theories hindered the progress of medical care.