Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by Newcastle University Library Education Outreach Team in collaboration with GCSE History teachers and students.

 

This resource provides an overview of medicine in Europe during the Renaissance and Early modern period (1500s - 1700s) and introduces some of the key individuals who contributed to the development of medicine at this time.

When using this resource, you may find it useful to have the Health and the People website open (see supporting links in Resources). The website contains lots of primary source materials and interactive revision games and videos conceived and developed by GCSE students. Try out the ‘Save the Village’ interactive game to test your knowledge about Edward Jenner and vaccination.

Curriculum Links

  • Key Stage 3 History - Medicine through time
  • Key Stage 4 History
    – AQA: Britain, Health and the People c.1000-present day;
    - OCR: The People’s Health c.1250-present;
    - Pearson Edexcel: Medicine in Britain, c1250–present

Learning Objectives

  • Knowledge of some of the key developments in medicine in Europe during the Renaissance and Early Modern period
  • Understanding the contribution made by key individuals (Andreas Vesalius, Ambroise Paré, William Harvey and Edward Jenner) to the development of medicine.
  • Skills thinking critically and making substantiated judgments about the significance of the role of different factors (e.g. individuals, war etc.) in the development of medicine.

Discussion Ideas

  • What was the significance of Andreas Vesalius’ book ‘The Fabric of the Human Body’ in the development of medicine?
  • How did technology influence William Harvey’s discovery that blood was pumped around the body in a circular motion?
  • What role did chance play in the Ambroise Paré’s treatment of gunshot wounds?
  • What was the contribution of Edward Jenner’s work to the development of medicine?
  • What other factors, other than the role of individuals, do you think contributed to the development of medicine during the Renaissance and Early Modern period?


Activity Ideas

  • Split students into small groups and allocate each one of the scientists covered in this resource. Challenge them to create a 2 – 3 minute video highlighting the important medical advancements they made, and the impact on medicine and medical procedures today. See Supporting Links for examples of videos made by GCSE students.
  • Play the interactives designed in collaboration with GCSE students on our Health and the People Website (see Supporting Links).
  • Split the students into small group and task them to look at primary sources relating to one of the scientists covered in this section. Ask them to note:
    - The name of the source
    - The author
    - The date it was created
    - What it shows
    - Why you find it interesting
    - Any questions you have about it
    See supporting links for examples of primary sources.