GCSEHistoryEdexcelThe Thematic & Historic Environment (Paper 1)Revision NotesMedicine in Britain, c1250-PresentThe Medical Renaissance, c1500-c1700Ideas About Causes of Disease in Renaissance Britain

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Ideas About Causes of Disease in Renaissance Britain (Edexcel GCSE History)

Revision Note

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Natasha Smith

Written by: Natasha Smith

Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett

Ideas of Cause of Disease in the Renaissance - Timeline & Summary

Timeline showing key historical milestones: 1440 - Gutenberg invents printing press; 1546 - Fracastoro theorizes disease spread by air; 1665 - Royal Society publishes; 1676 - Sydenham writes; 1683 - Leeuwenhoek sees bacteria.

Examiner Tips and Tricks

You may have noted a date that begins with ‘c.’ This stands for ‘circa’ which means ‘approximately.’ Even historians are unsure when some historical events happened. You can also use the abbreviation ‘c.’ in an exam if you are uncertain of the exact year of a significant moment that you want to talk about. An approximate date is better than an incorrect date

'Renaissance' is a French term which translates to ‘rebirth.’ This describes a period of new ideas about science, religion, art and architecture from the 16th century to the 18th century. Three factors allowed this evolution:

  1. The power of the Church was in decline. Christianity began to break into two different sects: Protestants and Catholics. Protestantism was a movement which began in Germany led by Martin Luther in c.1520s. It accused the Catholic Church of corruption and ignoring the teachings of the Bible. Protestantism began to spread and some countries converted to the new religion. England became Protestant in 1534 under King Henry VIII. The new Church lifted previous restrictions on practices like dissection, allowing more scientific progress.

  2. Some individuals became more curious about understanding disease. Humanism rejected God’s almighty power in favour of an individual’s control over their own fate. This allowed scientists like Thomas Sydenham to disprove old ideas and develop evidence-based theories. Institutions like the Royal Society promoted collaboration between scientists. This enabled the best minds across Renaissance Europe to analyse new discoveries. 

  3. There were key developments in technology. Microscopes became more powerful allowing scientists to view microorganisms, like bacteria, for the first time. The printing press is one of the most important inventions in human history. Printed books were not subject to censorship by the Church. Therefore new discoveries spread further than ever before. 

The Renaissance saw the first steps towards understanding why people became ill. However, many people still did not understand the cause of disease. There were many gaps in knowledge because of a lack of quality microscopes and other medical equipment. The attitude of the public destroyed any breakthrough in the cause of disease. Many people were resistant to change, refusing to accept that the Theory of the Four Humours was incorrect. Without the support of the population, there was no substantial progress.

New Ideas and Discoveries in the Renaissance

Alchemy 

  • Alchemy is an early form of chemistry

    • Created in medieval times, it became popular in the Renaissance

    • It originally focused on attempting to convert metal into gold 

  • Understanding the properties of substances allowed people to begin to use science to understand disease and develop cures 

    • Paraclesus, a Swiss scientist, used alchemy to create chemical treatments

    • He stated that small doses of mercury could cure syphilis

Animalcules 

  • By 1683, there were more powerful microscopes

  • These allowed scientists to view microorganisms 

    • Antony van Leeuwenheok studied plaque under a microscope

      • The tiny creatures or ‘animalcules’ he observed were the first sighting of bacteria

Medical Texts

  • The development of the printing press increased the creation of medical textbooks not influenced by the Church: 

    • On Contagion (1546) stated that seeds in the air caused disease

    • Observationes Medicae (1676) theorised external factors rather than the person’s humours made somebody ill

Understanding the Human Body

  • Allowing human dissection led to more accurate drawings of the human anatomy 

  • Dissection enabled:

    • Jan Baptiste van Helmont to gain a better understanding of the digestive system

    • English scientist William Harvey to discover the circulatory system

Old Ideas That Changed

Old Ideas That Changed a Lot

  • The Theory of the Four Humours 

    • Decreased in influence by the 17th century among physicians

    • Physicians looked at other medical texts to research symptoms and diagnose patients

    • Physicians increased their use of patient observation

  • Despite the change in the views of physicians, the general public only wanted their condition explained in terms of the Four Humours

  • Diagnosing patients using urine 

    • Due to advances in understanding the digestive system, physicians understood that urine did not directly influence a patient's health

Old Ideas That Changed a Little

  • Influence of the Church

    • In everyday life, it was now understood that God did not make people ill

    • In times of national emergency, for example, plagues, people still looked to religion for explanations and prevention

  • Supernatural

    • Belief in astrology declined by the 16th century

    • In times of plague, people still wore charms to warn off evil spirits

Old Ideas That Stayed the Same

  • Miasma

  • This theory remained hugely influential in this time period and increased in importance in times of epidemics

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Comparing the beliefs of two different time periods (in this case, from medieval to Renaissance) is incredibly important to be successful in Edexcel GCSE History. One of the main themes in Medicine in Britain c1250-present is the concept of change and continuity. You will be expected to know and communicate how the ideas about the cause of disease, treatment and prevention changed over time.

For a revision technique, choose two of the time periods covered in the course. Using the headings in the note above and your own knowledge, record how ideas about causes of disease, treatments or prevention developed between your chosen time periods.

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    Natasha Smith

    Author: Natasha Smith

    Expertise: History Content Creator

    After graduating with a degree in history, Natasha gained her PGCE at Keele University. With more than 10 years of teaching experience, Natasha taught history at both GCSE and A Level. Natasha's specialism is modern world history. As an educator, Natasha channels this passion into her work, aiming to instil in students the same love for history that has fuelled her own curiosity.

    Bridgette Barrett

    Author: Bridgette Barrett

    Expertise: Geography Lead

    After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.