In the Middle Ages, medicine was limited. This was crucial because between 1348 and 1350, the Black Death killed millions of people, almost a third of the population. Doctors had no idea what caused illnesses or how to stop them (“Medicine in the Middle”). The Catholic Church told its followers that illness was God's punishment for their sins (Door 9). Some of the only procedures doctors could perform were drawing blood using leeches and mixing “medicines” using herbs, spices, and resins (Rooney 106-107). Other medications were administered in the form of drinks, ointments, poultices, baths, and purges (Rooney 120). A hundred years later, when Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, many scholars settled in Italy, where they freely exchanged their ideas. With them, the scholars brought their libraries of books, giving European scholars access to Greek and Latin culture. As new ways of thinking spread from Italy to Europe, this period became known as the Renaissance, which was an age of discovery. As explorers returned with new discoveries and information, Europeans expanded their knowledge of astronomy, botany, and geography. Scientists like Copernicus and Galileo studied the world using observation and experimentation. Thanks to Gutenberg's printing press, this new information was accessible to anyone who could read. For this reason, the ideal Renaissance man had to be an accomplished scientist, artist, mathematician, and philosopher. The way people viewed medicine changed during this time. These changes gave rise to unique surgical methods, instruments, medications, and practices, with some notable personalities. The Renaissance era of discoveries did a lot for the world of medicine. People feared the consequences of disob...... middle of paper ......tory7.cfm>.McPeak, curator, Julie Mix. “History of the barber pole”. Department of Commerce and Insurance. Department of Commerce and Insurance, nd Web. January 22, 2014. “Medicine in the Middle Ages”. Lords and ladies. Lords and Ladies, nd Web. February 3, 2014. Nordqvist, Christian. “What is Medieval and Renaissance European Medicine?” » MNT 2003. MediLexicon International Ltd, Bexhill-on-Sea, UK, 9 August 2012. Web. January 23, 2014. Quinion, Michael. "Abracadabra." Global. World Wide, December 19, 2005. Web. February 8, 2014.Rooney, Anne. The history of medicine. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2013. Print. " Surgery ". Bringing the exploration of medical history to life. Science Museum, London, nd Web. January 23, 2014. Tiner, John Hudson. Exploring the history of medicine: from Pharaoh's ancient physicians to genetic engineering. Green Forest: Master, 2009. Print.