11 mark
What was Miasma?
A type of water found near swamps.
Bad air found near swamps, corpses, and rotting objects.
Disease spread by physical contact.
The balance of yellow bile, black bile, blood and phlegm.
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c1250-c1500 The Middle Ages (Edexcel GCSE History: The Thematic & Historic Environment (Paper 1))
Topic Questions
20 mins20 questions
21 mark
What did Galen's Theory of Opposites suggest as a cure for an excess of phlegm (cold)?
Drinking cold water.
Consuming sour food.
Eating a hot pepper.
Eating an apple.
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31 mark
Why did the Church support Galen’s theories in medieval England?
Galen’s theories encouraged the dissection of human bodies.
Galen’s theories did not require human dissection, aligning with the Church's belief in keeping the body intact for the soul's journey to heaven.
Galen’s theories were the only ones translated into Latin.
Galen was a Catholic who went to Church every Sunday.
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41 mark
What was the purpose of blood-letting in humoural treatments?
To draw out excess blood from the body.
To cause the patient to vomit.
To warm and bring moisture back into the body.
To draw out the poison from the body.
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51 mark
What was the belief behind the King's Touch?
The king could heal because he had studied medicine.
The king held supernatural powers passed from God due to the Divine Rights of Kings.
The king used special herbs and potions to cure diseases.
The king held supernatural powers given to him by the pope.
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61 mark
Which of the following was not a treatment promoted by the Church for illnesses?
Healing prayers.
Going on a pilgrimage.
Placing an offering at a shrine of a saint.
Drinking holy water daily.
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71 mark
Why did the Church not approve of apothecaries in the Middle Ages?
Apothecaries were too expensive for most people.
God did not bless the apothecaries.
Apothecaries competed with physicians for patients.
Apothecaries experimented with alchemy and the supernatural.
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81 mark
What was a major disadvantage of medieval hospitals?
Medieval hospitals did not provide any form of rest or hygiene.
Patients often had to share beds, which spread diseases.
Medieval hospitals used natural remedies to help aid recovery.
Patients were made to feel uncomfortable.
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91 mark
How did most barber surgeons learn their trade?
Attending university.
Watching physicians.
Reading medical texts.
Watching other barber surgeons.
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101 mark
What was the purpose of the book Regimen Sanitatis?
To provide a set of religious guidelines.
To teach apothecaries about herbal remedies.
To help patients maintain a healthy life through various instructions.
To teach barber surgeons about advanced surgical techniques.
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11 mark
Which of the following was not a believed cause of the Black Death in 1347?
The Black Death was a punishment for humans from God for their sins.
Jewish people were poisoning the wells.
Infected fleas spread the disease from human to human.
Miasma from bad air vapours was released from the soil into the air.
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21 mark
What was similar about hospitals of the Medieval and the Renaissance period?
The Church ran and owned hospitals in England.
Many patients visited hospitals to receive food, shelter and prayer.
All hospitals turned away people with infectious or terminal diseases.
Many hospitals had apothecaries on site to create remedies.
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31 mark
What was the consequence of the book Regimen Sanitatis?
It encouraged physicians to prevent patients from following an immoral lifestyle.
It encouraged people to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
It encouraged apothecaries to experiment with alchemy.
It encouraged people to drink lots of water.
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41 mark
How were wise women and apothecaries of the medieval period similar?
Both were apprentices for seven years before qualifying.
Both experimented with alchemy and the supernatural.
Both carried out minor surgeries.
Both used and mixed herbal remedies to treat patients' illnesses.
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51 mark
How are the Theory of the Four Humours and the Theory of Opposites similar?
The four humours, elements and seasons are at the centre of the two theories
The Church dismissed both theories.
They were both created by Galen.
They both suggested ways to cure a person's illness
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11 mark
Why was the Theory of Opposites significant in the medieval period?
It formed the basis for the balance and treatment of the humours. This was central to medieval medicine and was supported by the Church.
It helped explain the causes of epidemics and how to prevent them in medieval medicine by using the Theory of the Four Humours.
It was used to classify different types of medieval herbs and their medicinal properties. This formed the basis of books like Regimen Sanitatis.
It influenced the development of medieval surgical techniques and procedures which were used to teach dissections in universities throughout the medieval period.
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21 mark
To what extent was the role of the Church significant in Medieval medicine?
The Church was very significant. They controlled the education of physicians, created textbooks and took care of patients in hospitals.
The Church was significant, but it had powerful opponents who undermined the Church’s authority. Individuals criticised the work of Galen and weakened the Church’s authority.
The Church was significant as it controlled important areas of medicine such as education and hospitals. However, many people still used methods or services which were not supported by the church, such as apothecaries.
The Church was not significant. Not everyone was able to go to hospitals, read medical textbooks or use physicians because they could not afford them.
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31 mark
How important were physicians to medicine in the medieval period?
Physicians were important as they trained for seven to ten years and were the most educated medical professionals available at the time. They read the texts of Galen and, as a result, were trusted professionals.
Physicians were important as they had lots of practical experience in diagnosis and surgery.
Physicians were important as they examined a patient and used their star sign to form a diagnosis.
Physicians were important because they were very expensive. Only royalty and the wealthy could afford physicians during the medieval period.
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41 mark
Why did the use of barber surgeons continue into the industrial period?
They were not regulated by an official governing body until 1890
They were seen as efficient as you could have your hair cut and have surgery at the same time
They had methods for pain relief which were more successful than physicians
They were cheap and affordable. Most people could not afford to see a physician
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51 mark
Why was the government’s role in the Black Death significant?
The government’s lack of action was responsible for the continuation of the Black Death.
It challenged the Church’s power in England when it banned preaching and religious ceremonies to prevent the spread of the Black Death.
The rich helped the poor people of England by providing them with money and food.
The government intervened in the public’s health. This went against their usual laissez-faire positioning.
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