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Period: 4000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Primitive Times
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3900 BCE
Unknown Illnesses & Diseases
During primitive times, humans did not understand what diseases and illnesses were. It was thought to be caused by evil, spirits, demons, or even punishments from their gods. -
3700 BCE
Witch Doctors
One way primitive humans attempted to combat diseases/illnesses were through tribal witch doctors. These witch doctors would hold ceremonies in an attempt to cure someone. -
3400 BCE
Herbs and Plants
Primitive Humans found that some herbs and plants would help against some illnesses/diseases. For example these plants could give the drug Morphine from plants like Opium. These would help ease pain of primitive humans. -
3300 BCE
Trepanation
An ancient surgery these primitive humans would perform on each other was known as trephining. The process would use sharp rocks to drill a piece of bone from the skull to remove alleviate pressure or even to release evil spirits in the heads of the mentally ill. -
3100 BCE
Average Life Expectancy - Primitive
The average life expectancy of primitive humans was considered to be only 20 years. This is because humans had no idea what were diseases or illnesses and had no real way to fight them. -
Period: 3000 BCE to 300 BCE
Ancient Egyptians
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2600 BCE
Physicians & Priests
In Ancient Egypt, holy priests took the role of physicians. The sick were often sent to holy sites to pray to their gods for healing. -
2500 BCE
Health Records
The Egyptians had started to create the first known health records. These records were hieroglyphics that told of a person's health that more than one physician could understand. -
2000 BCE
Bloodletting and Leeches
One way Egyptians attempted to help the ill was through bloodletting. The thought process of cutting and letting the sick bleed to get rid of "bad blood" out of the body. Sometimes using leeches to suck out the blood instead of cutting (usually) wrists. -
1800 BCE
Average Life Expectancy - Egyptian
During the Egyptian age, the average age was now 20-30 years. -
Period: 1700 BCE to 220
Ancient Chinese
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1600 BCE
Importance of Full Body Treatment
The Chinese believed that it was vital to treat the entire body including the person's soul/spirit. -
1500 BCE
First Pharmacies
The Chinese had recorded the abilities of herbs and eventually created places like a pharmacy to provide herbs for medicine. -
1400 BCE
Therapy & Acupuncture
One way the Ancient Chinese would treat people was through physical therapy like massages. One form of therapy was known as Acupuncture involving many needles and is still sometimes used today, although more for wanting rather physical therapy. -
1300 BCE
Deep Thinking With Disease
The Ancient Chinese had begun to question why and how people were becoming sick. Although they never figured out why they were beginning to consider. -
1250 BCE
Average Life Expectancy - Ancient Chinese
The average life expectancy of the Ancient Chinese was around 20-30 years. -
Period: 1200 BCE to 200 BCE
Ancient Greeks
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1100 BCE
Hippocrates
Hippocrates was a Greek Physician. He is considered in history as the Father of Medicine. He was one of the first to observe symptoms and their effects on people. He and other physicians believed that illness was a result of natural causes. -
1000 BCE
Greek Therapies
The Ancient Greeks used many forms of therapy to help treat the sick. These included massage, art therapy, and herbal treatment. -
900 BCE
Stressing Hygiene & Health
Greek Physicians had begun to stress the importance of staying clean, keeping a good diet, and exercise. -
800 BCE
Average Life Expectancy - Ancient Greeks
The average life expectancy of the Ancient Greeks had increased to 25-35 years. This increase is likely due to their healthier lifestyle and hygiene. -
Period: 753 BCE to 410
Ancient Romans
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700 BCE
Organized Medical Care
The Ancient Romans were considered the first to have organized medical care for when their soldiers were injuries and in need of medical attention. -
600 BCE
Religious Buildings for Hospitals
Hospitals were found in religious and charitable institutions in monasteries and convents. -
500 BCE
Health & Sanitization Systems
The Ancient Romans developed some of the first public systems for health and sanitization. The creation of sewers and aqueducts allowed Romans to easily keep sanitary. -
400 BCE
Galen's Four Body Humors
Galen, a physician, claimed that the human body was regulated by four body humors. These were blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. -
300 BCE
Average Life Expectancy - Ancient Roman
The average lifespan of the Ancient Romans were though to be around 25-35 years. -
Period: 400 to 800
Dark Ages
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450
Ban of Medical Study
During the Dark Ages, Religion took a major role in power and had decided they did not like medicine. Since religion was basically the highest authority they prohibited the study of medicine and saving the soul medically. -
500
Pray & Divine Intervention for Healing
Prayers and Divine Intervention became the only way to treat illness & disease specifically from priests. -
550
Priests for Physicians
Due to the ban of medical study, priests and monks took over the role of physicians and caring for the sick. -
600
Herbal Mixtures
Many herbal mixtures were used for medical treatment and was the main (real) way of care. -
650
Diseases Still Unknown
During this time the cause of diseases were still unknown but were thought to be caused based on circumstances. But there was no real understanding. -
700
Average Life Expectancy - Dark Ages
During the Dark Ages, the average life expectancy dropped since the Romans likely because of the ban of medical study. The average lifespan is now 20-30 years. -
800
Medical Universities
The first medical universities were established around the 9th century. Taught concepts of the body and other principles that would sometimes come from past physicians like Hippocrates or Galen. -
Period: 800 to 1400
Middle Ages
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850
Renewed Interest in Medical Practice
The Middle Ages brought a new interest in medical practices from the Greeks and Romans. -
1200
Requiring Licenses
The Arabs had begun to require physicians to pass examinations and obtain licenses in order to become a physician themselves. -
1250
The Bubonic Plague
The Bubonic Plague was one of the most deadly plagues that struck Europe wiping out around 75% of the Europe and Asia population. -
1300
Discovering Diseases
Many diseases were discovered and named around this time. These include Smallpox, Diphtheria, Tuberculosis, Typhoid, Bubonic Plague, and Malaria. -
1350
Average Life Expectancy - Middle Ages
The average life expectancy from someone during the Middle Ages was around 20-35 years. -
Period: 1350 to
Renaissance
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1400
Rebirth Of Science Of Medicine
The Renaissance was also known as the Rebirth Of Science Of Medicine. Although diseases and illnesses were still a mystery. There were many huge advancements that would set up following centuries. -
1436
Printing Press
With the invention of the printing press from Johannes Gutenberg, it allowed for a medical knowledge to be more easily shared then ever before. -
1450
Body Dissections
Many people took to dissecting bodies for knowledge. although the means of obtaining them were likely not legal these dissections led to huge increase in understanding of anatomy and physiology. -
Period: 1500 to
16th and 17th Centuries
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1538
First Anatomy Book
The first anatomy book was published by Andreas Vesalius, an anatomist. -
1550
Father of Modern Surgery
Amborise Pare was a French surgeon who become known as the Father of Modern Surgery for his establishment of Ligatures. These ligatures were used to stop bleeding during surgery. -
Invention of the Microscope
The invention of the microscope allowed physicians to see disease causing organisms. This was a huge advancement. The microscope was invented by Zacharias Janssen. -
Average Life Expectancy - Renaissance
The average life expectancy during the Renaissance was around 30-40 years. -
Apothecaries
Apothecaries were the early pharmacists. They made, prescribed, and sold medications to the public. -
Average Life Expectancy - 16th & 17th Centuries
During the 16th & 17th centuries, the average life expectancy was around 35-45 years. Causes of disease were still unknown and many people died from infections during this time. -
Period: to
18th Century
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Invention of the Thermometer
Gabriel Fahrenheit created the first mercury thermometer. -
Established Surgical Procedures & Tube Feeding
John Hunter established scientific surgical procedures. Hunter also introduced the concept of tube feeding. -
Invention of Bifocals
Benjamin Franklin invented the bifocals, glasses with two different optical powers. -
Smallpox Vaccine
The Smallpox vaccine was discovered in 1798 by Edward Jenner. -
Average Life Expectancy - 18th Century
The average lifespan in the 18th century was between 40-50 years. -
Beginning of the 19th Century
During the 19th century there were rapid advancements in discoveries of microorganisms, anesthesia, and vaccinations. -
Period: to
19th Century
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Invention of Stethoscope
The stethoscope was invented in 1816 by a French physician named Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec. -
Nurses & Women
Formal training for nurses began around the 19th century to assist doctors. Women became an active part in health care quite often as these nurses. -
Understanding Our Blood
Different blood types are discovered (ABO). As well as the discovery of the white blood cells and their protection against diseases. -
Infection Control
After the discovery of microorganisms and their associated with disease, infections will able to start being put under control. -
First Open Heart Surgery
The first open heart surgery was done by Doctor Daniel H. Williams. -
Average Life Expectancy - 19th Century
The average lifespan during the 19th century was between 40-60 years. -
Period: to
20th Century
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Beginning of the 20th Century
During the 20th century there is a very rapid growth in health care because of new knowledge, discoveries, medications, and machines. -
Tuberculosis Vaccine
The Tuberculosis vaccine was created by French bacteriologists Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin. -
New Medications + Antibiotics
Many new medications were developed, one being Insulin used to treat diabetes. Alongside medications were antibiotics used to fight bacteria and infections. -
New Medical Machines
Many new machines are developed during the 20th century. These include the X-Ray (1895), Kidney Dialysis Machine (1943), and a Heart Lung Machine (1953). -
Typhus Vaccine
The Typhus vaccine was developed by Rudolf Stefan Jan Weigl, a Polish biologist. -
Discovery of DNA
DNA was discovered around the 1950s. It was a sort of competition from many scientists/medical professionals attempting to learn and discover DNA. -
First Bone Marrow Transplant
The first bone marrow transplant was performed Doctor E. Donnall Thomas for a child with Leukemia. This also initiated research in embryonic stem cells. -
Measles Vaccine
The Measles vaccine was developed by Maurice Hilleman, an American microbiologist. -
Organ Transplants
The first organ transplant for the kidney was done in 1960 by Doctor Michael Woodruff.
The first successful liver transplant was done in 1963 by Doctor Starzl.
The first heart transplant was in 1967 completed by Doctor Christiaan Barnard.
The first artificial heart to be implanted was in 1982 to patient Barney Clark, created by Robert Jarvik. -
Chicken Pox Vaccine
The Chicken Pox vaccine was developed Michiaki Takahashi, a Japanese virologist. -
Test Tube Babies
Test tube babies are conceived in vitro fertilization where the word vitro means glass. The fertilization is done outside the uterus in a glass vessel by combining a female egg with a sperm. vitro fertilization and test-tube babies are the same. -
Other Important Vaccines - 20th Century
Some other important vaccines include:
Diptheria – 1921
Pertussis – 1927
Influenza – 1945
Oral Polio – 1962
Mumps – 1967
Rubella – 1970
Streptococcus Pneumonia – 1977
Meningitis – 1978
Hepatitis B – 1981
Hepatitis A – 1992
Lyme Disease – 1998
Rotavirus - 1998 -
Average Life Expectancy - 20th Century
The average life expectancy in the 20th century is considered to be around 50-65 years. -
Smoke Free Laws
Smoke free laws were introduced in the late 1900's and early 2000's in order to combat second hand smoke as well as smoking in general. -
Period: to
21st Century - Now
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Targeted Cancer Therapies
New therapies in cancer allowing the interference with spread of cancer by blocking nearby cells and those growing from the tumor. Also including identifying and killing the cancer cells directly through forms of radiation. -
Human Genome Project
The Human Genome Project goal is to map out the entire DNA code of the human body in an attempt to further understand human diseases and get a hold on genetic and autoimmune diseases. -
Advances in HIV
Doctors have recently been able create medication to combat HIV turning it from a death sentence into a chronic disease. -
Face Transplants
The first face transplant was performed by Doctor Bernard Devauchelle, Benoit Lengelé, and Jean-Michel Dubernard. -
HPV Vaccine
The HPV vaccine was developed by Ian Frazer and Jian Zhou. It it extremely effective if taken before possibly contracting HPV. Can also prevent cervical cancer. -
Advances in Stem Cell Research
Many recent advances in recreating lost/damaged tissue. As well as further learning how to use and control stem cells. -
Laparoscopic Surgery
Laparoscopic surgery is a surgery practice allowing for minimal invasion. This surgery usually takes place around the abdomen or pelvis. -
Ebola Vaccine
The Ebola vaccine was developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada. -
Malaria Vaccine
The first Malaria vaccine was developed by Manuel Elkin Patarroyo known as SPf66. -
Average Life Expectancy - 21st Century
Today the average life expectancy is thought to be around 65-75 years. However with good health, hygiene, and medicine. This number is likely to become larger in the future.