MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH FROM ROMAN BRITAIN
ONWARDS
In the medicine exam you should complete question 5-the essay
question, which is made up of a 9 and 16 mark question. In this
lesson we will focus on the 16 mark question
TASK 1: Mark on the scale your understanding of medicine and public health
from Roman Britain to the Middle Ages at the beginning of the revision lesson
Poor
Okay
Excellent
TASK 2: Make sure you understand the key words below by completing the
table.
KEY TERM
CHANGE
DEFINIITION
CONTINUITY
PROGRESSION
REGRESSION
ROMAN PERIOD
MEDIEVAL
PERIOD OR
MIDDLE AGES
TASK 3: Read the statements and colour code to show examples of continuity
and change
Many public health
In the Middle Ages
ideas were lost when
there was not a strong
the Romans left Britian enough government to
organise public health
Many ordinary people
relied on herbal
remedies.
There was a belief in
the Theory of the Four
Humours throughout
the periods
The teachings of
Galen were
encouraged in both
period.
In the Middle Ages
astrologers would be
consulted
In the Middle Ages the
church became a lot
more powerful
Many people in the
Roman and Middle
Ages would carry
lucky charms.
In the Middle Ages
people blamed god for
illness.
Many ordinary people
relied on women for
medical treatment
By the 12th century
medical training based
on a set of texts
known as the Ars
Medicinae (Art of
Medicine)
In the Middle Ages
pilgrimages became
popular.
Education and medical
training were
controlled by the
church
There was little
change in the training
of doctors-most
continued to learn by
reading books.
In the 13th century lead
pipes were laid to
provide clean water in
London.
By the 13th century
most towns would not
let a doctor practice
without proving he had
studied medicine
Towns were very dirty
in the Middle Agesanimal and human
excrement was
common in the streets.
In 1281 the
government attempted
to stop pigs being
allowed in London
streets.
There were public
toilets in London,
Leicester, Winchester
and Hull.
A 1347 Sanitary Act
tried to keep the
streets cleaner
Almshouses began to
be set up in the 14th
century to care for the
‘deserving’ poor and
old.
The Romans created
hospitals for their
army. In the Middle
Ages hospitals
focused on care but
not curing the patient.
Rich people in the
middle ages often had
a good standard of
hygiene
Over 1000 hospitals
were established
during the middle ages
such as St Barts (a
charitable hospital)
TASK 4: Use the statements to complete the table below:
PERIOD
EXAMPLES OF CONTINUITY
WITH THE ROMANS
EXAMPLES OF CHANGE
MEDIEVAL MEDICINE
MEDIEVAL PUBLIC HEALTH
MEDICAL TRAINING IN THE
MEDIEVAL PERIOD
TASK 5: Read through the example questions (all from previous exam papers!)
Create a plan using your work so far to help you!
EXAMPLE QUESTION 1: How far did ideas about the cause of disease change from
the Roman period to the end of the Middle Ages?



Galen believed in the Theory of Four Humours.
The Roman army was told not to camp in swampy areas.
During the Black Death in 1348 some people whipped themselves.
Examples of how ideas about the cause of disease
changed (change)
Examples of how far ideas about the cuase
of disease did not change (continuity)
EXAMPLE QUESTION 2: ‘After the Romans left Britain the progress they had made in
public health did not continue’. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
You may use the following in your answer and any other information of your own.

In the Roman period, fresh water was piped to Lincoln.

During the Middle Ages there were public toilets in the town of Leicester.

In London in 1347, wells for drinking water were often close to cesspits.
Progress in public health did continue
(PROGRESS)
Progress in public health did not continue
(REGRESSION)
EXAMPLE 3: ‘The Roman withdrawal from Britain was a turning point in medicine and
public health’. Do you agree? Explain your answer.
You may use the following in your answer and any other information of your own.
 Roman villas in Britain usually had a good standard of hygiene.
 During the Anglo-Saxon period, collections of herbal remedies were
 known as ‘Leechbooks’.
In the Middle Ages medical training was based on Galen’s teaching
The Roman withdrawal was a turning point
The Roman withdrawal was not a turning
point
EXAMPLE 4: How much did medical training change from the Roman period until
c1350? Explain your answer.
You may use the following in your answer and any other information of your own.

Galen’s book On Anatomy was written c190AD.

The Christian Church controlled most medical training in the Middle Ages.

By the thirteenth century, physicians were expected to have completed a
medical degree.
Examples of how medical training changed
(change)
Examples of how medical training did not
change (continuity)
TASK 6: Read through the success criteria and then choose one of the four
example questions and write a practice answer!
SUCCESS CRITERIA:



 Spend no longer than 20-25 minutes
 Introduction
 A balanced answer that considers both viewpointsparagraphs on change/continuity
 Good supporting evidence
PEA paragraphs
A clear conclusion answering the question and a most important reason
Spelling and grammar
TASK 7: Mark on the scale your understanding of medicine and public health
from Roman Britain to the Middle Ages at the end of the revision lesson
Poor
Okay
Excellent