The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans made much progress in medicine.

. Explain why the Greeks used both supernatural and natural approaches to medicine.

[7 marks]

During the Greek period both natural and supernatural approaches to medicine were used because Greeks thought both were essential.

Asclepius was the Greek god of medicine and healing and therefore the Asclepion was a temple dedicated to Asclepius where Greeks would go to be treated. The process involved both natural and supernatural elements as dieting was regulated, exercise was encouraged and area of rest and bathing were available, also a doctor would place a natural remedy over the wound or disease and a snake would come to the people afterwards. During the time at the Ascelpion the patient would also pray in hope of being cured. Both the natural and supernatural remedies were used because Greeks believed both were beneficial.

Also, a great individual at the time was Hippocrates who developed the four humours theory, which was a natural approach. However Greek society was religious therefore the natural approaches from Hippocrates and the supernatural belief that the people had were both used in order to help people survive.

. ‘The Romans depended on the Greeks for their medical ideas.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.

[8 marks]

Romans were dependant on the Greeks for many of their ideas, but they had included some their own during the Roman Empire.

The Romans were dependent on the Greek for some of their medical ideas because the Romans had invaded the Greeks and during that they took over their medical library were all of their medical knowledge and recording had been kept, therefore the books and records were used throughout the Roman period. Hippocrates was a Greek figure whose ideas remained popular up until the Renaissance period, therefore he was influential during the Roman times. Also, Galen was Greek but because of the Roman invasion he became Roman and he developed most of the ideas used throughout the Roman period, mainly because he believed the body had been created by one God - this was ideal for the Churches as it proved God existed and created the human body, therefore Galen’s ideas were used throughout.

However, the Roman’s did have some of their own medical ideas and methods of preventing disease. As the Roman’s were intending to invade several places, their army and soldiers had to be strong, therefore medicine had to be effective in order for soldiers. The Roman’s had clean street and a clear public health system that involved getting rid of bad smells and bad air. Although there were problems with this and nobody knew the cause of disease was germs, the Roman public health system did benefit the people because by chance taking away bad air and smells took away some of the germs in the air and therefore preventing disease. This was idea created in the Roman period showing they were not completely dependent on Greek ideas.

There were no major Roman theories created during the Roman empire, but it was the Roman way of life that impacted medicine, therefore Romans were dependent on Greek medical idea and theories, but had a different way of life.