Antibiotics in the 720s_ The Early Medieval Era and Primitive Medicine

Antibiotics in the 720s: The Early Medieval Era and Primitive Medicine

In the 720s, the concept of antibiotics as we know them today did not exist. This period, part of the Early Middle Ages or Dark Ages, was characterized by limited medical knowledge and practices that were a blend of folk remedies, religious beliefs, and rudimentary understanding of human anatomy and disease.

During this time, medicine in Europe was primarily practiced by monks in monasteries, who preserved some of the medical knowledge from ancient Greek and Roman texts. In the Islamic world, which was experiencing a golden age of scientific advancement, medicine was more advanced, but still far from the concept of antibiotics.

Treatment of infections in the 720s would have relied heavily on herbal remedies, many of which we now know have some antibacterial properties. For example, honey, garlic, and certain molds were used to treat wounds and infections, though the people of the time didn't understand the scientific basis for their effectiveness.

Bloodletting was a common practice, based on the belief that illness was caused by an imbalance of the four bodily humors. This often harmful practice was used to treat a wide variety of ailments, including infections.

Prayer and religious rituals were also an integral part of medical treatment during this era. Many people believed that illness was a form of divine punishment or the work of evil spirits, and sought spiritual remedies alongside physical treatments.

In some parts of the world, traditional medicine systems like Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda were well-established and offered their own approaches to treating infections and other illnesses.

While some of these ancient practices have been found to have some medicinal value, the lack of understanding about the true causes of infection and the nature of bacteria meant that many treatments were ineffective or even harmful.

It would be over a thousand years before the discovery of penicillin in 1928 by Alexander Fleming, which marked the beginning of the modern antibiotic era. The development and widespread use of antibiotics in the 20th century revolutionized medicine, dramatically reducing mortality from infectious diseases.

Understanding the state of medicine in the 720s helps us appreciate the enormous advances made in medical science over the centuries, particularly in our ability to combat bacterial infections. It also reminds us of the importance of continuing to advance our medical knowledge and develop new treatments as we face challenges like antibiotic resistance in the modern era.