Hippocrates & Galen (AQA GCSE History)

The Importance of Galen & Hippocrates in Medieval England - Timeline & Summary

Hippocrates and Galen were two of the most important figures in medicine during Medieval England, even though they lived long before this time. Hippocrates, who lived in Ancient Greece, created the Theory of the Four Humours. Galen, a Roman doctor, built on Hippocrates' ideas and added his own, such as The Theory of Opposites. Galen also studied animals to understand anatomy, though his findings were not always correct. Together, their theories became the foundation of medical knowledge for centuries.

In Medieval England, people still followed and believed in Hippocrates' and Galen's ideas because the Church strongly supported them. The Church saw Hippocrates and Galen's work as compatible with its teachings, especially since Galen believed in a 'creator' who designed the human body. Additionally, there were few scientific advancements during the Medieval period to challenge their ideas. Doctors relied on their writings to diagnose and treat illnesses. Although many of their ideas were incorrect, their work remained influential because people lacked the medical knowledge to question them.

Who was Hippocrates?

• Hippocrates was an Ancient Greek physician

• Hippocrates is known as the ‘Father of Modern Medicine’

  • Hippocrates was one of the first people to state the importance of observing a patient’s symptoms before diagnosis

  • Doctors today still take the Hippocratic Oath which promises that they will not harm patients in their care

The Theory of the Four Humours

• Hippocrates theorised that four humours made up the human body:

  • Blood

  • Phlegm: A water-like substance coughed out or contained in a sneeze

  • Black Bile: Blood that had clotted, seen in vomit or poo

  • Yellow Bile (Choler): A substance contained in vomit or pus

• People believed that for a person to be healthy, the four humours should be in balance

• Hippocrates’ theory stated that if someone had more or less of one of these humours, the body would become unbalanced. The person would then become ill

• The humours also linked to seasons, elements and star signs

Who was Galen?

• Galen was an Ancient Roman physician 

• Galen expanded on the Theory of the Four Humours

• Galen had a keen interest in anatomy

  • He publicly dissected animals, particularly pigs

    • This provided Galen with evidence for his theories on the functions of organs, nerves and the skeletal structure of the human body

• The use of pigs meant that his ideas were mostly incorrect when applied to human anatomy

  • Despite this, Galen's ideas dominated medical thinking for 1,400 years until Vesalius' discoveries

The Theory of Opposites

• Galen's Theory of Opposites argued that the cure for an excess of one humour is treatment with the opposite humour

  • For example, people believed that the cure for too much phlegm (cold) was eating a hot pepper (hot)

Why was Hippocrates & Galen still important in Medieval England?

Restrictions from the Church

• The theories of Hippocrates and Galen did not require human dissection which allowed the Church to support them

  • The Church did not believe in cutting the body as, for a person's soul to go to heaven, the body needed to be intact

A lack of medical knowledge

• Many people in Medieval England could not read

• Physicians who had read Hippocrates and Galen were regarded as better-educated

  • This meant that Medieval people did not question the physicians

• Due to a lack of scientific discoveries, there were no better explanations for illness than those suggested by Hippocrates and Galen 

• Hippocrates encouraged physicians to observe a patient’s symptoms

  • The Four Humours theory matched with what Ancient and Medieval physicians saw in their patients