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 5 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. 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.
Topic position
Section 3 of 16
Practice
8 questions
Recall
5 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.