Health: 14th-19th Century European History

By Kassi, Clare, Kendall

Unit I: The Late Middle Ages, The Renaissance, The Reformation

Chapters 11, 12, 13

The Little Ice Age Drop in overall temperatures Shortened growing seasons 1315-1317 heavy rains destroyed harvests Caused extreme hunger and starvation Killed 10% of European population in first half

of 14th century Malnutrition

Disease Infant mortalitity

The Black Death mid 14th century Originated in Asia Spread by rats and fleas Symptoms: high fever, aching

joints, swelling of lymph nodes, internal bleeding

Killed 50-60% of victims 20-50% of total European

population killed Reactions by population

Indulgent living Flagellants

Revolts Look in to medical knowledge Health/sanitation laws made

New Directions in Medicine Hippocrates Galen: 4 humors

Phlegm Yellow bile Black bile blood

Physicians had little or no practice

Rise of surgeons Anatomy Medical textbooks made 14th century: 6 medical

schools Paris most prestigious

Unit II: Exploration, Conquest, State Building

Chapters 14, 15

Conquest Aztecs and Incas

No immunity to European germs Measles, small pox

Unit III: The Scientific Revolution, The Enlightenment

Chapters 16, 17

Advancements in Medicine Galen

Incorrect anatomy based on animals Treatment based on imbalance of

humors Belief in two separate body systems

Muscular and digestive Paracelsus

Macrocosmic-Microcosm philosophy Disease caused by chemical

imbalances Treated by chemical remedies

Vesalius Anatomy of humans Corrected Galen’s theory of blood from

liver Harvey

Blood from heart blood makes a complete circuit

One body system Modern foundation of physiology

World of Medicine Hospitals = bad sanitary conditions Hierarchy of practitioners

Physicians, surgeons, apothecaries, midwifes, faith healers

Popular Culture Alcohol

Gin, vodka Poor would drink selves

into oblivion

Unit IV: European States: War, Social Change, and Revolution

Chapters 18, 19

Growth of European Population Decline in death rate

Plentiful food Better transportation of

food supply Improved diets

Introduction of new crops Potatoes Corn

More nutritious food supply End of Plague Typhus, small pox,

influenza, dysentery Poor hygienic conditions

Birth Control Coitus interruptus

End of 18th century: used to limit number of children

An Agricultural Revolution Increases in food

production More farm land Healthier livestock

Increase in meat in European diet

Improved climate Jethro Tull

Use of hoe Seed drill

Peasant Diet Dark bread = staple Water, wine, beer Potatoes, corn More susceptible to

disease when harvests were bad

Unit V: Industrial Revolution and Reform

Chapter 20, 21

Population Growth 140 million: 1750 266 million: 1850 Drop in number of deaths from famines Plague and small pox numbers declined Better food supply

More resistant to disease

The Great Hunger The Potato Famine

Ireland Struck by fungus

Turned potatoes black Decimated Irish

population Over a million died of

starvation and disease

Almost 2 million emigrated to the United States

Urban Living Conditions in the Early Industrial Revolution Dramatic growth of cities

Miserable living conditions 1 toilet for 20 families Manchester, England: 1842

Average life span = 17 years Countryside, England: 1842

Average life span = 38-40 years Cholera Edward Chadwick

Reported on conditions of laboring population Public Health Act 1848

Attempted to clean unsanitary conditions

Factory Conditions during the Industrial Revolution Awful 12-16 hour work days 6 day weeks Little breaks for food

malnutrition Dangerous cave-ins,

explosions, gas fumes in mines Cramped conditions

Deformed bodies Dampness

Ruined lungs

Factory Reforms Improved conditions slightly Longer breaks Shorter work days Women and children couldn’t work in coal

mines

Bibliography Western Civilization

Spielvogel AP Euro Website

Gnass Google Images