Glencoe World History © 2010

Chapter 10: Europe in the Middle Ages

Student Web Activity Lesson Plans

Health in the Middle Ages

Introduction

During the Middle Ages Europeans lived in harsh conditions and confronted many health problems. In this activity, students will focus on health and medicine in medieval Europe. The treatments and remedies for health conditions in medieval Europe were mostly ineffective and sometimes dangerous. By learning more about health and medicine in medieval Europe, students can gain an understanding of what life was like during those times.

Lesson Description
Students will go to a Web site about the history of health and medicine in the Middle Ages. Students will read the information and answer five questions about the topic.

Instructional Objectives

  1. The learner will be able to explain medieval health problems.
  2. The learner will be able to describe medieval health and medicine.

Student Web Activity Answers

  1. Yellow bile was related to fire, phlegm to water, black bile to earth, and blood to air.


  2. bloodletting; restore the balance of fluids in the body


  3. give the patient a treacle


  4. melancholy


  5. Answers will vary. Some remedies, treatments, and diagnostic tools that doctors still use today include cauterization, use of laxatives and diuretics, some herbal remedies, collecting blood samples, and taking the pulse.

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