Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2024
First exams 2026
Ideas About Causes of Disease in Renaissance Britain (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Natasha Smith
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Ideas of Cause of Disease in the Renaissance - Timeline & Summary
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:
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
Paracelsus, 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 Leeuwenhoek 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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