History of Health

  • Period: 4000 BCE to 3000 BCE

    Primitive times

    Believed that illness and disease were caused by supernatural spirits and demons
    Average lifespan was 20 years
    Drilled holes in skulls to cure insanity and headaches
  • Period: 3000 BCE to 300 BCE

    Ancient Egyptians

    Earliest known health records
    Late span 20 - 30 years
    Believed the body was a system
    If channels were clogged they did bloodletting
  • 2725 BCE

    First physician

  • Period: 1700 BCE to 220

    Ancient Chinese

    Monitored pulse to determine the condition of the body
    Recorded medications made with herbs
    Used acupuncture
    Average lifespan was 20 to 30 years
  • Period: 1200 BCE to 200 BCE

    Ancient Greek

    Average lifespan was 25 to 35 years.
    Began modern medical science by observing the human body and effects of disease.
    Believed illness was natural
    Stressed diet and cleanliness as ways to prevent illness
    Used therapy
  • Period: 753 BCE to 410

    Ancient Romans

    Organized medical care for injured solders
    Early hospitals developed when physicians cared for ill in their homes.
    Later hospitals were religious
    Began public health and sanitation
    Created aqua ducts to carry clean water into cities
    Built sewers
  • 460 BCE

    Hippocrates

    Father of medicine
    Developed an organized way of observing the body
    Created high standard of ethics, oath of Hippocrates used today.
  • 384 BCE

    Aristotle

    Dissected animals and called the founder of anatomy
  • Period: 400 to 800

    Dark ages

    Monks and priests provided care for people.
    Prayers and divine intervention were used to treat illness and disease.