The Black Death: Effects of the Plague on Italian Culture

Jessica Holttum, Jordan Standlee, Candace Haghighi, and Cezanne Camacho

Outline

Before 1347 Justinian’s Plague Gothic Art

Black Death Religion Art Social effects

Legacy Lasting themes Current interpretations

Italian Culture Before 1347

Previous Plagues

Many plagues seen before Black Death Always affected culture Never was as influential as Black Death

Case study: Justinian’s Plague (542-594)

Background on Justinian’s Plague

Byzantine Empire/Constantinople ~10,000 deaths per day Eastern Roman Emperor

o Justinian I- one of the few survivors Western Roman Empire/Byzantine-Arab

Wars Forty percent of Constantinople was killed

o Bodies were dumped in the streets Cities of Eastern/Western Empires were

very divided: quarantine districts

Background on Justinian’s Plague: 542-594 (cont’d)

“…when pestilence swept through the whole known world and notably the Roman Empire, wiping out most of the farming community and of necessity leaving a trail of desolation in its wake, Justinian showed no mercy towards the ruined freeholders. Even then, he did not refrain from demanding the annual tax, not only the amount at which he assessed each individual, but also the amount for which his deceased neighbors were liable…“Procopius

Roman Art During Justinian’s Reign

Hagia Sophia Church of the Holy Apostles Arch dam of Dara Basilica Cistern Sangarius Bridge

Comparison to Black Death

Limited trading routes regulated the spread of the Plague within the Byzantine Empire and between the Eastern and Western Empires

No recorded attempts of medical/scientific advancements during the Justinian Plague

The empire was forced into a territorial decline after the Justinian Plague

Life Before the Black Death

Time of growth and prosperity New agricultural techniques

o Rise in population Environmental unrest: 1300-1317 High susceptibility to disease within population Political strife "They are never content with their constitution,

they are never quiet, and it seems that this city always desires change of constitution as so the government changes every fifteen years"(Cole p.218)

Italian Artwork Before the Black Death

Mid-12th Century- Gothic Style emerged Gothic style evolved from Romanesque art

o Depictions of Christ and scenes from the Bibleo The Last Judgmento Use of precious materials- clear depiction of

wealth Sculptures in a more naturalistic form rather

than in idealized form Frescos, panel paintings, and stained glass

Arrival of Death

Began in China/Mongolia

Travelled via Silk Road 1346: reaches

Constantinople 1347: in Kaffa, from

there to Sicily Spread through trade

routes to all of Italy Horrible sanitation

No germ theory

Source: http://www.arnoldbocklin.com/ab_plague.htm

Immediate Effects of the Black Death on Italian Culture

General Facts

1347 to 1350 Had been seen before, to lesser

degree Many resurgences later Killed ~1/3 of Europe

~200 million people Ex: Florence, 120,00050,000 people

Quarantine

Developed in response to plague 40 days isolation

o“quarentina” = 40 daysoBased on Bible (days Christ was in

wilderness) Milan, Florence, Venice Ships isolated before arriving Houses boarded

What was the Black Death? Bubonic plague

Bacterium yersinia pestis Transmission: blood

contact, fluid droplets Symptoms:▪ Fever, pain, seizures, sores,

hemorrhage Lymph nodes swell

buboes 2-10 day incubation Death within 4 days Livestock equally affected Source:http://

www.pseudomonas-syringae.org/Outreach/Module_1_Soc_Sci.htm

Treatment?

Today: Strong antibiotics, fluids, oxygen▪ Death rate ~50%

1300s: Ring church bells Talismans, charms, spells Cover mouth from “miasma” Bloodletting▪ Death rate ~90%

Reactions

End of times Toward religion

Death is inevitable Away from religion Pleasure-seeking

Hysteria Persecution

Religion—Flagellation

Self-whipping Repentance No central doctrine Had existed already

(1259) Became popular

during Black Death (~1349) Spread through Italy

Died out after banned by Pope Clement VI Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flagellant

Religion—Persecution

Hysteria Sacrifice Jews

Believed to be poisoning wells▪ Seen as dishonorable

Captured and tortured for confession Often spared if converted Burned alive Pope Clement VI prohibited these acts

Other minorities

Religion—Plague Saints

St. Sebastian Patron saint of plague

sufferers Physically fit/well Parallel with Apollo

(pestilence) St. Roch (1295-1327)

Devoted self to curing plague sufferers

Thought to have miraculous healing effects

Was infected, but recovered Honored during Council of

ConstanceSource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Roch

Religion—Plague Saints

14 Holy Helpers Group of saints now connected to Plague Collective invocation wards off disease Each connected to specific symptom▪ Ex: St. Christopher bubonic plague, dangers

of travelling▪ Ex: St. Catherine sudden death▪ Ex: St. Cyriacus temptations on death-bed

Literature—Ars Moriendi

Long: 1415, Short:1450 “Art of Dying” Comforting the dying

Emphasizes forgiveness over punishment

Vices and Virtues of dying Includes how to write a

will Written due to Council of

Constance Educate commoners about

religious mattersSource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_moriendi

Literature—Decameron

Written by Boccaccio in 1350s

Describes Black Death in Florence (1348) Disparaging description of

plague-doctors Considered highly accurate Pleasure-seekers vs. the pious

Connects plague to passionate love

Coins term “novella” Escapism Demanded literary license

Censorship concerns Emphasized choice over fate

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summary_of_Decameron_tales

Literature—Petrarch

Writings affected by plague Lover died in Plague▪ Wrote poetry about her▪ Canzoniere

Italian sonnet Laurel as symbol of poetry

and immortality Son died in 1361 from

Plague Suffering Art

Became more religious Source: http://elizabethanliteraryculture.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/petrarch-and-laura-an-unreachable-love-and-desire/

Science—Plague Theories

Astronomy Jupiter, Saturn, Mars had aligned

Atmospheric “Poisonous vapors” Miasma

Religious Second Coming, end of times

Social Jews poisoning well-water

Science—Plague Doctors

Few certified doctors Plague “doctors”

Often unqualified lay people Hired by city, highly paid▪ Treated everyone, regardless

of class Responsible for death

records, will-recording Responsible for dealing with

body▪ Bodies sometimes left (fear of

touching them)▪ Autopsies sometimes

performedSource: http://www.themiddleages.net/plague.html

Economy—During the Plague

Recession Trade routes compromised▪ Nearly all stores closed

Commodities in high demand▪ Candles, funeral clothing▪ Food, medicine

Everything very expensive Priests, alchemists, etc. became rich

Economy—After the Plague

Benefits to the poor Loss of people higher demand of

workers▪ Guilds forced to accept outsiders

More resources available; land, etc.▪ Looting of abandoned houses

Inheritances People now wealthier, better fed, with

more surplus money Result: social tension

Politics-Uprising

Ciompi Revolt Florence, 1378 Angry textile workers revolt▪ Result of social tension between classes

Democratic! All classes represented Short-lived (1 month) Symbolic of social upheaval occurring

throughout Europe

Legacy of the Black Death

Legacy of the Black Death

Changes in artistic expression following the end of the Black Death In painting and literature Danse Macabre Memento Mori Ars Moriendi

Continuation of these themes In modern society and media Current perception of Death

Danse Macabre

First seen in the mid-1400s

Typical representation Death as a skeleton “Dance of death” Kings AND commoners

Death is universal and inevitable Popular in North Italy

Frescoes on churches

In Film

The Seventh Seal (1957), a film by Ingmar Bergman Set in the time of the Black Death The main character, Block, plays a game of chess with Death in an attempt to forestall his demise Death wins the game of chess and Block

ends up in a “dance of death” Portrayal of Death

In Theater

The Dance of Death (1901), a play by August Strindberg Portrays marriage as the “dance of death” Lies and accusatory wordplay comprise the dance

In Music

Danse Macabre, Camille Saint-Saens (1874) Strategic instrumentation and

musical form Applications in current media

Dance of Death, album by Iron Maiden (2003)

British heavy metal Main vocalist would dress as the Grim

Reaper “Death metal”

Memento Mori

“Remember your mortality” Reminder that death is inevitable

Typical imagery: Skulls and bones Hourglass/ clock Candles Fruits and flowers

Frowns on vanity and worldly goods

Extension to the Present Day Presence in modern paintings

Constancy of imagery Day of the Dead

Sugar skulls and pan de los muertos

Representations of the dead

Present Day Perception of Death

Death is a constant presence in the media

Humorous view of death Televised representations:

Monty Python Family Guy South Park and more

Ars Moriendi

The “art of dying” Then:

Emphasis on fragility of life Now:

Modern medicine and death in the media

Emphasis on avoiding death Denying our own mortality Gift and sacrifice

Discussion Questions

Is there a connection between the Plague and the Renaissance? Had the Plague not been brought to Italy during

the middle of the fourteenth century, would the Renaissance movement have started later? Is there a direct correlation between the start of the Renaissance movement and the end of the Black Plague?

Discussion Questions

When medieval communities were under stress, they began sacrificing Jews, women, and other minorities. Is this a general pattern of human behavior? Are there any modern examples of people

reacting in this way? Would it be considered “pure violence”?

Discussion Question

Do you think that there is a concept of a “good death” in modern society or a set of unifying beliefs and commitments that guide current approaches to dying? What ideas would go into a modern-day Ars Moriendi (art of dying) manual?

Discussion Questions

How did people react when the H1N1 scare occurred? In what ways was it similar to the way people reacted to

the Black Death? Was there a culture change? Why or why not?

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