1. History GCSE Homework
You will find the following three slides useful when planning your answers to the test paper
Remember:
You should agree with the statement to some extent, and support your answer from both the source and your knowledge
You should also try to challenge the statement and support your answer from both the source and your knowledge.

2. J.Healing prayers. K.Pilgrimage G.Amulates and charms
As the church taught that disease was sent by God as a punishment for sin, people prayed for forgiveness and for cures – spiritual healing.
K.Pilgrimage
People believed that visiting holy sites, touching holy relics and presenting offerings could provide a miracle cure.
G.Amulates and charms
Chanting incantations and using charms and amulets to heal symptoms and ward off diseases were common practices in the Middle Ages.
K.The ‘King’s Touch
It was commonly believed that the
king had the power to heal certain
certain illnesses like
‘scrofula’, by
touching the sick
with holy oil.
Kings were usually
willing to perform
this ceremony as it
demonstrated their
‘divine right’ to rule
and their link to God.
C.Astrology
N.Humoural treatments
To restore the balance of the humours
Treatments might include blood letting
(phlebotomy), vomiting or purging by using an enema or laxative.
Physicians consulted star charts when diagnosing illness. These were also important when prescribing treatments which varied according to the horoscope of the patient which was then matched to the alignment of the planets e.g purging.

3. O.Bathing - (public ‘stewes’)
F.Avoiding sin
O.Bathing - (public ‘stewes’)
Warm baths were often prescribed to help the body draw in heat and help dissolve blockages in the humours.
This gave the body the opportunity to steam out impurities.
B.Herbal remedies
Sick people were often treated with herbal remedies which they might drink, sniff or bathe in. Some of these are still used today such as aloe vera, mint, camomile and rose oils.
Most people in the Middle Ages believed illness could be avoided by regular prayers, confessions and offering tithes to the church or by punishing themselves (Flagellants)
J.Hygiene
E.Diet
I.Purifying the air
Medieval people tried to keep the air free from miasma by purifying it. They did this by spreading sweet herbs like lavender, carried pomanders or sometimes burnt oil and tar in the street.
Since the humours were though to be produced by digestion what and when you ate were considered important in preventing an imbalance
Eating too much was strongly discouraged. People purged themselves to prevent getting illness.
The ‘Regimen Sanitatis’ was a set of hygiene instructions provided by physicians to advise their patients on how to keep healthy. It was based on Hippocrates ideas on washing and keeping clean – very common by 1250

4. P.Physicians H.Female carer’s Most people would been L. Apothecaries
treated home by a
female family member.
They would have made
the remedies them-
selves and some acted
as midwives and
‘wise women’.
L. Apothecaries
Apothecaries
mainly mixed
herbal remedies.
They also had a
good knowledge
of the healing power of herbs
and plants thanks to studying herbal manuals such as the ‘Materia
Medica’. Some of them dabbled in alchemy ; they supplied some of the more unusual items ie unicorn horn
Medieval physicians had trained at university, to diagnose and recommend rather than actually treat patients. They were scare, very expensive and based their ideas on the four humours and Hippocratic ideas (usually employed by royalty)
D.Hospitals
By 1500, there were around 1,100 hospitals - some just had a couple of beds some had hundreds. Many just offered ‘hospitality’ rather than treatment. Around 30% were run by the Church staffed by monks and
nuns.
M. ‘Quack Doctors’
Anyone could set themselves up as a ‘doctor’. Such characters would often turn up at
markets and
fairs. Some of
their remedies
may have had
some benefits
but most were
ineffective and
sometimes
dangerous.
A.Barber Surgeons
Barber surgeons trained by serving an apprenticeship. They were looked down on by physicians. They performed minor surgery, pulled teeth, performed amputations and carried out blood letting.