A Scientific Approach

Gradually, throughout the Renaissance period, fewer people believed in suprenatural or religious causes of disease. Various new rational explanations for disease were suggested, such as seeds in the air spreading disease. The real change in this period was the reduced influence of the Church and scientific influence to diagnosing illness.

• The theory of miasma continued to be believed by many to be the cause of disease. It was a particularly popular theory during epidemics
• The Theory of the Four Humours continued to be an accepted explanation for disease although by 1700 very few physicians believed in it