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Period: 3000 BCE to 300
Ancient Egyptians
The Egyptians were the earliest people to maintain accurate health records. They also used leeches to open clogged blood channels and called on gods to heal them when disease occurred. They used magic and medicinal plants to treat disease. Imhotep (2635 BC-2595 BC) may have been the first physician. -
Period: 1700 BCE to 220
Ancient Chinese
The Chinese recorded a pharmacopoeia of medications based mainly on the use of herbs. They also invented acupuncture and moxibustion. They believed in the need to treat the whole body by curing the spirit and nourishing the body. -
Period: 1200 BCE to 200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
The Greeks stressed diet and cleanliness to prevent disease. They brought the idea of massage therapy, art therapy, and herbal treatment. They believed that illness is a result of natural causes. -
Period: 753 BCE to 410
Ancient Romans
The Romans are credited for the first hospitals, aqueducts, filtering systems, sewers, and dissecting animals. They believed that an imbalance in the 4 humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) resulted in illness. -
384 BCE
Hippocrates
Considered the father of medicine. -
1578
William Harvey
Described the circulation to and from the heart -
Anton Van Leeuwenhoek
Invented the microscope -
Gabriel Fahrenheit
Created first mercury thermometer -
Rene Laennec
Invented the stehoscope -
Benjamin Franklin
Invented bifocal glasses. -
Edward Jenner
Developed a vaccine for smallpox -
Florence Nightingale
Started professional education for nurses -
Clara Barton
Founder of the American Red Cross -
Elizabeth Blackwell
First female physician -
Louis Pasteur
Proved microorganisms cause disease and created a vaccine for rabies. -
Robert Koch
Developed the culture plate to identify pathogens -
William Roentgen
Discovered x-rays -
Sigmund Freud
Formed basis for psychology and psychiatry -
Joseph Lister
Discovered disinfectants -
Marie Curie
Isolated radium -
Sir Alexander Fleming
Discovered penicillin -
Jonas Salk
Developed polio vaccine
