Andrew Eustace 10RAP
Ancient Egyptians knowledge of the body.
There were several factors in the expansive knowledge of the anatomy, and medicine, gained by the Ancient Egyptians (3000 to 400BC.).
The first of these factors was religion.
The Egyptians were very religious and had many Gods and Goddesses. These controlled all areas of life including disease and medicine.
A major part of the Egyptian belief was that evil spirits entering the body caused illness. To cure this the evil spirit had to be driven away.
The ancient Egyptians had quite a large knowledge of the body for the period - this knowledge was gained through their religious beliefs and ceremonies. The Egyptians new about the pulse, liver, brain and other organs but they wouldn't of known there proper uses. The Egyptians prepared bodies for the return of the soul in the after-life. During embalming, they took out the major organs and preserved them. We also no that the heart of an Egyptian was known to be considered important and was therefore left in the mummified body rather than being dissected. This gave them good knowledge of the anatomy. Embalming also provided skills in surgery and pharmacy - the use of drugs to preserve the body gave many doctors a good idea of their properties.
Ancient Egyptians knowledge of the body.
There were several factors in the expansive knowledge of the anatomy, and medicine, gained by the Ancient Egyptians (3000 to 400BC.).
The first of these factors was religion.
The Egyptians were very religious and had many Gods and Goddesses. These controlled all areas of life including disease and medicine.
A major part of the Egyptian belief was that evil spirits entering the body caused illness. To cure this the evil spirit had to be driven away.
The ancient Egyptians had quite a large knowledge of the body for the period - this knowledge was gained through their religious beliefs and ceremonies. The Egyptians new about the pulse, liver, brain and other organs but they wouldn't of known there proper uses. The Egyptians prepared bodies for the return of the soul in the after-life. During embalming, they took out the major organs and preserved them. We also no that the heart of an Egyptian was known to be considered important and was therefore left in the mummified body rather than being dissected. This gave them good knowledge of the anatomy. Embalming also provided skills in surgery and pharmacy - the use of drugs to preserve the body gave many doctors a good idea of their properties.