STIs in the Middle Ages: Understanding Disease in the Dark Ages

The concept of "venereal disease" did not exist in the period known as the Middle Ages or Dark Ages, which roughly lasted from the fall of the western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14th century. Medical knowledge and understanding of diseases during that time were limited compared to modern medicine, and the classification and treatment of illnesses were different.

Some diseases that are now classified as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) may have existed in the Middle Ages, but their prevalence and causes were not well understood. It is challenging to determine the exact number of people who died from such diseases or their specific causes during that period due to the lack of accurate records and medical understanding at the time.