This deep dive covers Pasteur's Germ Theory (1861) within Germ Theory for GCSE History. Revise Germ Theory in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 16 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
🧠 Pasteur's Germ Theory (1861)
| Problem | What Pasteur Did | Result |
|---|---|---|
| French wine industry: wine was going sour | Examined spoiled wine under microscope | Found microorganisms (germs) in bad wine |
| Old theory: "spontaneous generation" (germs appeared from nowhere) | Swan-neck flask experiment: air in but dust/germs out | Proved germs come from air, don't spontaneously appear |
| What causes decay? | Heating liquid killed germs (pasteurisation) | Proved germs cause decay — GERM THEORY |
Key point: Pasteur proved germs existed and caused decay. He suggested they might cause disease — but didn't prove it himself.
Practice questions for Germ Theory
In which year did Louis Pasteur publish his Germ Theory?
What did Pasteur's swan-neck flask experiment disprove?
Quick recall flashcards
What is Germ Theory?
The theory that specific microorganisms (germs/bacteria) cause specific diseases — published by Pasteur in 1861
When did Pasteur publish Germ Theory?
1861