History of Medicine- Cate Byers

  • Period: 4000 BCE to 3000 BCE

    Primitive times

    In this time Illnesses or diseases were believed to be cause by evil spirits and were treated in ceremonies .Treatments were herbs or plants. They also surgically removed part of the brain known as trepanation. The average life span was only 20 years.
  • Period: 3000 BCE to 300

    Ancient Egyptians

    During this time physicians were also priests. The first health records were reported by ancient Egyptians. For medical treatment, they used bloodletting or leaches. And the average life span was 20-30 years.
  • Period: 1700 BCE to 220

    Ancient Chinese

    Believed in treating the whole body by curing the spirit first. Medications mainly based on the use of herbs. Acupuncture was a very popular treatment. They began to search for answers to illness. Average life span was 20-30 years.
  • Period: 1200 BCE to 200 BCE

    Ancient greeks

    They were the first to observe the human bodying the effects caused by illness. They believed that illness came from natural causes, and treated it with many therapies. They believed highly in exercise and hygiene. Lived to 25-35 years.
  • Period: 753 BCE to 410

    Ancient Romans

    First to have organized care for injured soldiers. Hospitals were religious and they had the first health and sanitation system. Galen believed that the body was regulated by 4 blood humors. Life span was still 25-35 years.
  • Period: 400 to 800

    Dark Ages

    For treating illness they used prayer and divine intervention. The monks and priests would provide custodial care for the sick. Medications were mainly herbs and diseases were still blamed on circumstance. Life span was 20-30 years
  • Period: 800 to 1400

    Middle Ages

    Gained interest in medical practice of Greeks and Romans. Arabs started to require a passing examine and license for a physician. The bubonic plague hit and killed 75% of the population of Europe and Asia. Medical universities were created. Life span was 20-35.
  • Period: 1350 to

    Renaissance

    Body dissections helped the understanding of the human body. Medical knowledge was able to be shared because of the printing press. The first anatomy book was made. Disease cause was still unknown . Life span was 30-40 years
  • Period: 1500 to

    16th and 17th Centuries

    The knowledge about the human body got way better. Ambroise Pare found the use of ligatures to help stop bleeding. Pharmacists started to sell medications. Microscope was finally invented. Life span was 35-45 years.
  • Period: to

    18th Century

    Gabriel Fahrenheit created the first mercury thermometer. Bifocals were then created. Tube feeding along with surgical procedure were introduced. A vaccine for small pox was created. Life span was 40-50 years.
  • Period: to

    19th Century

    Around the same time the stethoscope and x-ray machine were developed and invented the average life span was 40-60. There were rapid advancements because of the discoveries of microorganisms, amnesia, and vaccinations. Around this time the formal training for nurses began and the first open heart surgery occurred in 1893.
  • Period: to

    20th Century

    In the 20th Century the did a lot with what's going on inside the body. They discovered the different blood types, the structure of DNA, the first bone marrow transplant and organ transplants (kidney, liver, heart, artificial heart). They also did a lot with the new inventions for instance new machines, test tube bases, and new medications.
  • Period: to

    21st Century

    This Century is mainly about transplants and vaccines. Some of the transplants they did were a totally implantable artificial heart and a face transplant. They mapped out human diseases to get a handle on genetic and autoimmune diseases. With eventually lead to them coming up with HPV, Ebola, and Malaria vaccines.