A Historical Correlation of Medical Advancements with Socio-Political and Technological Epochs
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Modern medicine relies on observing clinical symptoms and tracking diseaseprogression, enabling rational diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Since theprehistoric era, medicine has advanced through observation, experimentation,and innovation, resulting in effective treatments and longer life spans. However,despite these successes, many diseases still challenge modern medicine. Ourmain argument is that medical progress is shaped by the interdependencebetween medicine, socio-political stability, and technological development.To demonstrate this, we analyzed major databases from prehistoric to moderntimes and conducted a narrative review of secondary sources. We found thattransformative eras; from Imhotep's promotion of natural disease causes inancient Egypt to Hippocrates' reforms in Greece and Avicenna's contributionsin the Middle Ages align with strong socio-political contexts. In recent times,technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, have driven newdevelopments like robotic-assisted surgery and genetic medicine in theGlobal North. Therefore, our review concludes that robust socio-political andtechnological environments are crucial for medical advancement, forging adynamic relationship between medicine, politics, and technology.
Source: Figshare
Author: Ojo, Olusola
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7088502890
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