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EnglandHistory

Medicine in Britain c1250 to present

6 dot points across 6 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

What factors drove or held back change in medicine, and what were the turning points?

The factors that encouraged or inhibited change in medicine across the thematic study (individuals, institutions, science and technology, attitudes in government and society, war and chance) and the key turning points such as germ theory.
A focused answer to the factors of change at the heart of Edexcel's Medicine thematic study, explaining how individuals, institutions, science and technology, attitudes, war and chance each drove or held back medical progress, and identifying the major turning points such as germ theory.
12 min answer →

How did the prevention of disease and public health change c1250 to present?

Change and continuity in the prevention of disease and public health across the whole thematic study, from medieval regulations and monasteries, through the 1875 Public Health Act, to modern vaccination, screening and lifestyle campaigns.
A focused answer tracing prevention of disease and public health across the whole Edexcel Medicine thematic study, comparing medieval town regulations and monasteries, the laissez faire era, the 1875 Public Health Act, and modern vaccination, screening and lifestyle campaigns, with the factors driving change.
12 min answer →

Why is the period c1700 to 1900 seen as a revolution in medicine?

The breakthroughs of c1700 to 1900: Jenner and vaccination, Pasteur's germ theory and Koch's microbes, the development of anaesthetics by Simpson and antiseptics by Lister, Nightingale and nursing, and the move to government public health.
A focused answer to the c1700 to 1900 period of Edexcel's Medicine in Britain thematic study, covering Jenner's vaccination, Pasteur's germ theory, Koch's microbes, anaesthetics (Simpson) and antiseptics (Lister), Nightingale and nursing, and the shift from laissez faire to government public health.
14 min answer →

What did people believe about disease, and how did they treat it, in medieval Britain c1250 to 1500?

Medieval ideas about the cause of disease (the Four Humours, miasma, religion and astrology), approaches to prevention and treatment, who provided care, public health in towns and monasteries, and the response to the Black Death of 1348 to 1349.
A focused answer to the medieval period of Edexcel's Medicine in Britain thematic study, covering ideas about the cause of disease, the dominance of Galen and the Church, medieval prevention and treatment, who provided care, public health, and the response to the Black Death.
13 min answer →

How was medicine transformed in the modern period c1900 to present?

Modern advances in understanding the cause of disease (genetics and lifestyle), improvements in diagnosis, magic bullets and antibiotics including penicillin, the impact of science, technology and the NHS, and the case of lung cancer and smoking.
A focused answer to the modern period of Edexcel's Medicine in Britain thematic study, covering new understanding of the cause of disease (DNA and lifestyle), better diagnosis, magic bullets and the discovery and mass production of penicillin, the role of the NHS, science and technology, and the lung cancer case study.
13 min answer →

How far did medicine change in the Renaissance period c1500 to 1700?

Renaissance ideas about the cause of disease, the challenge to Galen by Vesalius and Harvey, the work of Sydenham, the impact of the printing press and the Royal Society, continuity in treatment, and the response to the Great Plague of 1665.
A focused answer to the Renaissance period of Edexcel's Medicine in Britain thematic study, covering how Vesalius and Harvey challenged Galen, the work of Sydenham, the role of the printing press and the Royal Society, the continuity in everyday treatment, and the response to the Great Plague of 1665.
13 min answer →