Medieval Life Revision

Why did medieval doctors carry nice smelling things, such as posies or oranges?

• To make a good impression

• To prevent disease

• They couldn't afford perfume

Answer explanation

It was believed during medieval times that bad smells carried disease, therefore doctors protected themselves from catching disease by carrying something that smelled nice.

It was believed that people could become ill due to God punishing them for their sins

• True

• False

In medieval times, barbers were also surgeons

• True

• False

Answer explanation

As there were not many doctors, in many towns barber-surgeons were the only medical help! They were regular barbers who also decided to try their hand at medicine.

It was believed that the body was made up of four humours: blood, phlegm, black bile and ...

• yellow bile

• black blood

• brown bile

• orange phlegm

Which of these were methods for preventing the Black Death?

• All of the above

• Moving air by ringing bells and flying birds

• Saying prayers & whipping each other on the way to church

• Lighting a room on fire

About one half of the English population died because of the Black Death

• True

• False

Answer explanation

About 1/3 of people died. The Black Death had already killed thousands of people before it reached England.

The Black Death was also known as the ....

• Bubonic Plague

• The Painful Plague

• The Bacterial Plague

• The Bumbling Plague

Answer explanation

It was called the Bubonic Plague due to the buboes that appeared on the victim - painful swelling of the skin

People thought that the Black Death could be caused by the position of the planets

• True

• False

Witches were blamed for causing the Black Death

• True

• False

Which of these was NOT a treatment for the Black Death

• A vaccination

• Eating cool things

• Applying the inside of a frog to the buboes

• Whipping themselves to say sorry to God