History of Medicine

By revima37
  • Period: 3000 BCE to 300 BCE

    Ancient Egypt

    The Egyptians were the first to keep accurate health records. They also used the technique of bloodletting to cure patients of contaminated blood. Many of the medicines were from plants or magic. Their gods were asked to help the sick. The first physician was thought to be Imhotep.
  • Period: 1700 BCE to 220

    Ancient China

    The Chinese believed that the body should not be dissected, so they used acupuncture to relieve pain for patients. They were the first to search for the cause of symptoms, and they also kept pharmacopeias.
  • Period: 1200 BCE to 200 BCE

    Ancient Greece

    The Greeks began modern medical science techniques. They developed methods to observe the human body, and they created different types of therapy that are still today. It was first believed that illnesses were caused by natural causes in this time period.
  • Period: 753 BCE to 410

    Ancient Rome

    The Romans were the first to introduce aqueducts and sewers because they realized people were becoming sick from the unsanitary conditions. They were also some of the first to have hospitals. Claudius Galen was a physician during this time that established many medical beliefs that are still valid today.
  • 300 BCE

    Hippocrates

    Hippocrates
    Known as the "Father of Medicine"

  • William Harvey

    William Harvey
    Described the circulation to and from the heart

  • Anton van Leeuwenhoek

    Anton van Leeuwenhoek
    Invented the microscope

  • Gabriel Farenheit

    Gabriel Farenheit
    Created the first mercury thermometer

  • Benjamin Franklin

    Benjamin Franklin
    Invented bifocal glasses

  • Edward Jenner

    Edward Jenner
    Developed the vaccine for small pox

  • Rene Laennec

    Rene Laennec
    Invented the first stethoscope

  • Elizabeth Blackwell

    Elizabeth Blackwell
    First female physician

  • Florence Nightingale

    Florence Nightingale
    Started professional education for nurses

  • Joseph Lister

    Joseph Lister
    Discovered disinfectants

  • Clara Barton

    Clara Barton
    Founded the American Red Cross

  • Robert Koch

    Robert Koch
    Developed the culture plate to identify pathogens

  • Louis Pasteur

    Louis Pasteur
    Proved microorganisms cause disease and created a vaccine for rabies

  • Wilhelm Roentgen

    Wilhelm Roentgen
    Discovered x-rays

  • Marie Curie

    Marie Curie
    First to isolate radium

  • Sigmund Freud

    Sigmund Freud
    Formed basis for Psychology and Psychiatry

  • Sir Alexander Fleming

    Sir Alexander Fleming
    Discovered penicillin

  • Jonas Salk

    Jonas Salk
    Developed the polio vaccine