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4000 BCE
Primitive Ages
The notion of the primitive always appears at the boundaries of myth, legend, and history -
4000 BCE
Primitive Ages
Herbal medicine is the earliest scientific tradition in medical practice, and it remains an important part of medicine to this day -
4000 BCE
Primitive Ages
The snakeroot plant has traditionally been a tonic in the east to calm patients; it is now used in orthodox medical practice to reduce blood pressure. -
4000 BCE
Primitive Ages
The long centuries of primitive experiment mean that Susruta, a physician working in India in about the 6th century BC, is able to list hundreds of herbal remedies. -
4000 BCE
Primitive Ages
People in the primitive ages lived around 25 years old -
Period: 4000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Primitive Ages
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3100 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
Due largely to their embalming process, the ancient Egyptians gained great knowledge of anatomy because of the practice of removing human organs -
3100 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
Ancient Egyptian doctors were specialized in dentistry, pharmacology, gynecology, autopsy, embalming and general healing. -
3100 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
All future development of medicine has some glimpses of Egyptian medicine -
3100 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
Earliest people known to maintain accurate health records. Lifespan was 20 to 30 years. -
3100 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
Called upon the gods to heal them when disease occured -
Period: 3000 BCE to 300 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
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1700 BCE
Ancient Chinese
Religious prohibitions against dissection resulted in inadequate knowledge of body structure -
1700 BCE
Ancient Chinese
Carefully monitored the pulse to determine the condition of the body. Average lifespan was 20 to 30 years. -
1700 BCE
Ancient Chinese
Recorded a pharmacopoeia of medications based mainly on the use of herbs -
1700 BCE
Ancient Chinese
Believed in the need to treat the whole body by curing the spirit and nourishing the body -
1700 BCE
Ancient Chinese
Began the search for medical reasons for illness -
Period: 1700 BCE to 220
Ancient Chinese
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1200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
Believed illness is a result of natural causes -
1200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
Began modern medical science by observing the human body and effects of disease -
1200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
Used therapies such as massage, art therapy, and herbal treatment that are still used today -
1200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
Stressed diet and cleanliness as ways to prevent disease -
1200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
Average life span was 25 to 35 years -
Period: 1200 BCE to 200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
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753 BCE
Ancient Romans
First to organize medical care by providing care for injured soldiers -
753 BCE
Ancient Romans
Early hospitals developed when physicians cared for ill people in rooms in their homes -
753 BCE
Ancient Romans
Later hospitals were religious and charitable institutions housed in monasteries and convents -
753 BCE
Ancient Romans
Diet, exercise, and medications were used to treat disease -
753 BCE
Ancient Romans
Average life span was 25 to 35 years -
Period: 753 BCE to 410
Ancient Romans
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400
Dark Ages
Emphasis was placed on saving the soul and the study of medicine was prohibited -
400
Dark Ages
Prayer and divine intervention were used to treat illness and disease -
400
Dark Ages
Monks and priests provided custodial care for sick people -
400
Dark Ages
Medications were mainly herbal mixtures -
400
Dark Ages
Average life span was 20 to 30 years -
Period: 400 to 800
Dark Ages
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800
Middle Ages
Renewed interest in the medical practice of Greeks and Romans -
800
Middle Ages
Physicians began to obtain knowledge at medical universities in the 9th century -
800
Middle Ages
average life span was 20 to 35 years -
800
Middle Ages
Major diseases were smallpox, diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid, the plague, and malaria -
800
Middle Ages
Arab physicians used their knowledge of chemistry to advance pharmacology -
Period: 800 to 1400
Middle Ages
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1350
Renaissance
Rebirth of science of medicine -
1350
Renaissance
Dissection of the body began to allow a better understanding of anatomy and physiology -
1350
Renaissance
Development of the printing press allowed knowledge to be spread to others -
1350
Renaissance
First book on dietetics written by Issac Judaeus -
1350
Renaissance
Average lifespan was 30 to 40 years -
Period: 1350 to
Renaissance
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16th and 17th Centuries
Causes of disease were still not known and many people died from infections and puerperal fever -
16th and 17th Century
First successful blood transfusion on animals performed in England in 1667 -
16th and 17th Century
Bartolomeo Eustachio identified the eustachian tube leading from the ear to the throat -
16th and 17th Century
Apothecaries made, prescribed, and sold medications -
16th and 17th Century
Average life span was 35 to 45 years -
Period: to
16th and 17th Century
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18th, 19th, 20th, 21st Centuries
Average life span of 18th century was 40 to 50 years -
Period: to
18th, 19th, 20th, 21st Centuries
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18th, 19th, 20th, 21st Centuries
Average life span of 19th century was 40 to 60 years -
18th, 19th, 20th, 21st Centuries
The first kidney dialysis machine was developed in 1944 -
18th, 19th, 20th, 21st Centuries
Adult stem cells were used in treatment of disease early in the 2000s -
18th, 19th, 20th, 21st Centuries
First face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on a women whose lower face was destroyed by a dog attack
