Medieval ideas about the causes of illness and disease
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe what ideas were used to explain the causes of illness and disease during the medieval period.
Key learning points
- Religion was a widespread explanation for disease in the medieval period.
- Non-religious explanations were also used, including astrology, miasma and the Theory of the Four Humours.
- Medieval ideas lacked scientific proof and were often inaccurate.
- The Theory of the Four Humours was the most popular non-religious explanation for ill health.
- The Theory of the Four Humours claimed illness occurred when four liquids, or humours, in the body were out of balance.
Keywords
Supernatural - things that cannot be explained by our knowledge of science or nature
Astrology - the study of the positions and movements of stars and planets to say how they might influence people's lives
Zodiac signs - twelve signs representing both groups of stars and when people are born
Common misconception
Religion was the only medieval explanation for the causes of disease and illness.
Religion was a widespread and commonly used explanation for disease but many other theories were also used including miasma, astrology and the Theory of the Four Humours.
Teacher tip
Before reading section A of the Additional Material, share the quote about immoral behaviour and death. Ask pupils what this suggests could be responsible for causing illness and disease.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was the main religion in medieval Europe?
Q2.Most Christians in medieval England were ...
Q3.Staring with the earliest, sort the following dates into chronological order.
Q4.Starting with the earliest, sort the following centuries into chronological order.
Q5.Which society ruled over an empire that covered large parts of ancient Europe?
Q6.Identify the statement which is most accurate.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The study of the positions and movements of stars and planets to say how they might influence people's lives is known as ...
Q2.Many medieval Christians believed that illness and disease were sent as a punishment for ...
Q3.What did the Theory of the Four Humours blame for causing illness?
Q4.How did people think miasma spread disease?
Q5.Which Ancient Roman surgeon and physician supported the Theory of the Four Humours?
Q6.Which statement is most accurate?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Medieval ideas about the causes of illness and disease, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Medieval ideas about the causes of illness and disease, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Medicine in Britain, c1250–present unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.