2.1.1
The Renaissance & Vesalius
The Renaissance
The Renaissance
The Renaissance began in Florence, Italy in the late 15th century and lasted until the 18th century. It was a cultural movement that revived part of Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman culture.
Writing and knowledge
Writing and knowledge
- Scholars were paid to restore old texts and fix the bad translations that had been published in the Middle Ages.
- The theories proposed by Hippocrates, Galen and Avicenna became popular again.
Humanism and science
Humanism and science
- There was an increased focus on the importance of human factors rather than supernatural things. This was called humanism.
- There was also a focus on direct observation and experiments to explain things rather than blame them on something supernatural.
- This led some people to question the Church.
Communication and the printing press
Communication and the printing press
- Renaissance means rebirth. It was a time of rebirth in the arts and science. The printing press (created in 1440) was very important to share and spread ideas.
- The printing press allowed knowledge to be shared with more people very cheaply.
- Books and leaflets could be printed and sent across Europe whereas previously, a lot of information was only told person-to-person.
Impact on medicine
Impact on medicine
- The rediscovery of Galen, Hippocrates and Avicenna’s work meant that people began to see the importance of dissection and the anatomy.
- The focus on humans and the increased spread of ideas all encouraged experimentation and the search for explanations.
- People began to dissect human bodies (corpses) and there were illustrations in medical writings and books.
The Work of Vesalius
The Work of Vesalius
Andreas Vesalius was a physician who studied in Paris and Louvain. He then became a professor of surgery at the University of Padua.
Dissections
Dissections
- Vesalius thought that surgery would only get better if people understood the body and the anatomy better.
- He used dissections (of executed criminals) to show that Galen’s understanding of the human body was wrong.
- He faced opposition for criticising Galen and had to leave his job at the university.
Vesalius’ writings
Vesalius’ writings
- Vesalius published his Six Anatomical Pictures in 1538 and then published On The Fabric of the Human Body in 1543.
- On The Fabric of the Human Body had illustrations based on Vesalius’ dissections.
- Copies of Vesalius’ work reached physicians in Britain.
Inspiring anatomists
Inspiring anatomists
- Doctors were encouraged to do dissections themselves after Vesalius’ work.
- Vesalius is credited with inspiring other anatomists, such as Fabricus and Fallopius.
1Medicine Stands Still
1.1Ancient Egyptian Approaches to Medicine
1.2Ancient Greek Medicine
1.3Medieval Medicine
1.4Religion & Medicine
1.5Public Health in the Middle Ages
2The Beginnings of Change
2.1The Impact of the Renaissance on Britain
2.2Treating Illnesses in the Renaissance
3A Revolution in Medicine
3.1The Development of Germ Theory & its Impact
3.2A Revolution in Surgery
4Modern Medicine
4.1Modern Treatment of Disease
4.2New Diseases & Treatments in the 20th Century
5Themes in Public Health
Jump to other topics
1Medicine Stands Still
1.1Ancient Egyptian Approaches to Medicine
1.2Ancient Greek Medicine
1.3Medieval Medicine
1.4Religion & Medicine
1.5Public Health in the Middle Ages
2The Beginnings of Change
2.1The Impact of the Renaissance on Britain
2.2Treating Illnesses in the Renaissance
3A Revolution in Medicine
3.1The Development of Germ Theory & its Impact
3.2A Revolution in Surgery
4Modern Medicine
4.1Modern Treatment of Disease
4.2New Diseases & Treatments in the 20th Century
5Themes in Public Health
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