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Period: 4000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Primitive times
During this time they believed that all illnesses and diseases were caused by demons and evil spirits. Average lifespan was only about 20 years Herbs and plants were used as medicine Trepanation or trephining which includes cutting out a piece of the skull -
Period: 3000 BCE to 300 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
The priests were also the doctors Bloodletting and leeches were their medical treatments the lifespan raised to about 20-30 years -
1700 BCE
Ancient Chinese
They believed that the key to curing the body was curing the spirit and nourishing the body. Began to search for medical reasons of illness rather than blaming God/Gods. Lifespan was lengthening to about 30 years -
Period: 1200 BCE to 200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
Hippocrates, who was known as the Father of Medicine) were the first to observe the human body and the effects of disease this led to modern medical sciences. Believed illness is a result of natural causes Stressed diet, hygiene, and exercise as ways to prevent disease The average life span was 25-35 years -
Period: 753 BCE to 410
Ancient Romans
Organized medical care for soldiers Hospitals were religious and charitable organizations in monasteries and convents Galen established the belief that the body was regulated by four body humors; blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile Life span was 25-35 years -
Period: 400 to 800
Dark Ages
Study on medicine was prohibited Prayer and Divine intervention was used to cure illness Life span 20-30 Medications were mainly herbal and plants -
Period: 800 to 1400
Middle Ages
Renewed interests in Greek and Roman practices Arab began making doctors pass tests to perform medicine 1346-1353: Bubonic Plague killed 75% of the population in Europe and Asia 1220-1225: medical schools created Lifespan 20-30 -
Period: 1350 to
Renaissance
Body Dissections led to an increased understanding of anatomy and physiology 1440: The invention of printing press allowed medical knowledge to be shared The first anatomy book was published The average life span was 30-40 years -
Period: 1500 to
16th & 17th centuries
1500s: Ambroise Pare, a French surgeon, known as the Father of Modern Surgery established the use of ligatures to stop bleeding 1600’s: Apothecaries made, prescribed, and sold medications 1670: Invention of the microscope allowed physicians to see disease-causing organisms. Infection still killing alot Average life span 35-45 years -
Period: to
18th century
1714: created the first mercury thermometer 1760: Benjamin Franklin invented bifocals 1778: established scientific surgical procedures and introduced tube feeding 1798: Smallpox vaccine discovered Average life span 40-50 years -
Period: to
19th century
Rapid advancements due to discoveries of microorganisms, anesthesia, and vaccinations 1895: X-Ray Machine Developed 1893: First Open Heart Surgery 1816: Invention of the stethoscope Women became active participants in healthcare Average life span 40-60 years -
Period: to
20th Century
1901: ABO blood groups discovered Found out how white blood cells protect against disease
New medications were developed 1922: Insulin discovered and used to treat diabetes 1928: Antibiotics developed to fight infections (penicillin) 1953: Heart Lung Machine
Surgical and diagnostic techniques developed to cure once-fatal conditions 1953: The structure of DNA is discovered and research in gene therapy begins -
Test Tube Babies
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Period: to
21st Century
2001: The first totally implantable artificial heart was placed in a patient 2003: Human Genome Project Completed
Mapped out human diseases in an effort to get a handle on genetic and autoimmune diseases 2005: Face Transplants 2006: HPV (Human Papillomavirus Vaccine) Prevent Cervical Cancer