The Four Humours (Hippocrates & Galen)

Part of Medieval Ideas about Disease · Section 3 of 15

Deep DiveUnit: Medicine Through TimeGCSE

The most important medieval theory came from ancient Greece. Hippocrates (c.460-370 BC) developed it; Galen (c.130-210 AD) expanded it. The idea: the body contains four "humours" (liquids), and illness happens when they're out of balance.

HumourElementQualitiesSeasonIf Too Much...
BloodAirHot & WetSpringBleeding to reduce it
Yellow BileFireHot & DrySummerPurging (laxatives)
PhlegmWaterCold & WetWinterAdvised to keep warm
Black BileEarthCold & DryAutumnPurging or bleeding

This deep dive covers The Four Humours (Hippocrates & Galen) within Medieval Ideas about Disease for GCSE History. Revise Medieval Ideas about Disease in Medicine Through Time for GCSE History with 8 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 3 of 15 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Practice questions for Medieval Ideas about Disease

According to the Four Humours theory, what caused illness?

  • A. Germs entering the body through the air
  • B. God punishing sinners for their wrongdoing
  • C. An imbalance of the four humours in the body
  • D. Evil spirits possessing the patient's blood
1 markfoundation

Why did Galen often make mistakes about human anatomy?

  • A. He lived before any scientific instruments had been invented
  • B. He based his human anatomy on dissecting animals, not human bodies
  • C. He refused to examine patients and only worked from books
  • D. He rejected the Four Humours theory used by other doctors
1 markfoundation

Quick recall flashcards

What was miasma?
The belief that disease was caused by "bad air" or smells from rotting matter
What was uroscopy?
Examining a patient's urine — its colour, smell, clarity, and taste — to diagnose disease. A standard medieval diagnostic technique based on humour theory.

Previous

The Four Humours Theory

Next

Other Medieval Beliefs

8 questions on Medieval Ideas about Disease: practise free

Instant marking, adaptive difficulty and spaced-repetition flashcards — all aligned to your exam board.

Start revising free →

PrepWise is a trading name of A3M Quality Solutions Limited, registered in England and Wales, company number 14959172. Registered office: 202 Stroud Road, Gloucester, GL1 5LA. ICO registration ZC267069.