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[[File:Blackdeath,_tourmai.jpg|thumbnail|left|Contemporary Image of Black Death]]The Black Death (1347-1350) was a pandemic that devastated the populations of Europe and Asia. The plague was an unprecedented human tragedy in Italy. It not only shook Italian society, but transformed it. The Black Death marked an end of an era in Italy, its impact was profound , and it resulted in wide-ranging social, economic, cultural and religious changes.<ref> Burckhardt, Jacob (1878), ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014044534X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014044534X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c69db648577e5fea459a41232bb349e6 The Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy]'', trans. S.G.C Middlemore, p. 14.</ref> These changes, directly and indirectly, led to the emergence of the Renaissance, one of the greatest epochs for art, architecture, and literature in human history.
====The Impact of the Plague of Italy====To Black Death spread to Italy from modern-day Russia. It was spread by Genoese merchants spread the plague while fleeing a Mongol attack on their trading post in Crimea. The plague was carried and spread by the fleas that lived on the Black Rat and brought to Italy on the Genoese ships.<ref>Pullan, Brian S. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CMHGO4K/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00CMHGO4K&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=15e48ba82dfc5f5eeee14a1e5eca5898 History of early Renaissance Italy: From the mid-thirteenth to the mid-fifteenth century]'' (London: Allen Lane, 1973), p. 76 </ref> The population of Italy was ill prepared for the spread of the disease. There had been a series of famine and food shortages in the region , and the population was weak and vulnerable to disease , and furthermore, the population did not have any natural resistance to the disease. Italy was the most urbanised urbanized society in Europe, Milan, Rome, Florence , and other Italian centres centers among the largest on the continent.<ref> Pullan, 1973, p. 89</ref> The majority of the urban population in cities such as Naples were impoverished and lived in squalid and dirty conditions. These factors ensured that the diseases spread quickly and that there was a high level of mortality, among the poor, although even the rich could not escape the plague.<ref> Andrew B. Appleby's "Epidemics and Famine in the Little Ice Age." ''Journal of Interdisciplinary History''. Vol. 10 No. 4., p. 56</ref> From the cities,the plague spread like wildfire to the small towns and villages of the peninsula. [[File:Danse_macabre_by_Michael_Wolgemut.png|thumbnail| Dance of Death image from 15th century woodcut]]There is no firm data on the impact of the plague on the population of Italy. However, some examples show the full extent of the disease on Italy. It has been estimated that the population of Florence was halved, it fell from approximately 100,000 to 50,000. This was not unusual and all the major cities of Italy experienced a similar drastic decline. The death rate in rural Italy may not have been as great, but nevertheless, there was a significant loss of life. In general, the population of Italy may have dropped by as much as a third.<ref>Pullan, 1973, p. 156.</ref>
The Black Death was also an economic crisis majority of the urban population in cities such as trade ceased because of fear of Naples were impoverished and lived in squalid and dirty conditions. These factors ensured that the diseases spread quickly and that there was a high level of mortality, among the poor, although even the rich could not escape the plague. As trade stagnated, businesses failed and unemployment rose<ref>Andrew B. The plague caused a complete social breakdown in many areas and crime Appleby's "Epidemics and violence became more common. Boccaccio Famine in the DecameronLittle Ice Age." ''Journal of Interdisciplinary History''. Vol. 10 No. 4., describes people abandoning their occupationsp. 56</ref> From the cities, ignoring the sick plague spread like wildfire to the small towns and living lives villages of wild excess, as everyone expected to diethe peninsula. [[File:Danse_macabre_by_Michael_Wolgemut. ‘Thus, doing exactly as they prescribed, they spent day and night moving png|thumbnail|left| Dance of Death image from one tavern to 15th-century woodcut]]There is no firm data on the impact of the plague on the nextpopulation of Italy. However, drinking without mode or measure, or doing some examples show the full extent of the same thing disease in other people's homesItaly. The plague halved the population of Florence. The population crashed and fell from approximately 100,000 to 50, engaging only in those activities that gave them pleasure…000.The experience of Florence was replicated across all the major cities of Italy which also experienced similar drastic declines. And they combined this bestial behavior with The death rate in rural Italy was not nearly as complete an avoidance high, but there was a significant loss of life. In general, the sick total population of Italy may have dropped by as much as they could managea third.'<ref> BoccaccioPullan, Giovanni. ''The Decameron.'' (Penguin Classics, Hammondsworth, 1987) trans Mark Musa1973, p. 6156.</ref>
==Religious ==Socio-Economic Consequences====Initially in Italy The social consequences of the plague led on society came to be profound. The high mortality rate resulted in a revival drastic decline in religion among manythe labor force.<ref> Hay, Denys. ''[https://www.amazon. com/gp/product/0521291046/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521291046&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=20ec38bb2892fda8011774d1b91c7f5b The middle ages was a time when people believed that events are a result of God’s willItalian Renaissance in Its Historical Background]''. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,1997) p. 19</ref>. Many viewed the plague as a punishment for God Wages rose for the wickedness both agricultural and immorality of the peopleurban workers. There was an upsurge in religious observance and many sections The survivors of the public became swept by a religious fervour, as many sincerely believed that the Black Death was generally had a sign that the end higher standard of living than before the world was comingplague.<ref> BenedictowHays, 20041997, p. 23478 </ref>This was a phenomenon that occurred in both urban and rural areas. Religious fanaticism spread throughout The crisis caused by the peninsula and Black Death led to many men and women performed changes in extreme religious practicesthe economy, such as in response to the fall in the flagellantspopulation. The flagellants whipped themselves into Because of the labor shortages, there was a frenzy move from labor-intensive farming such as cereal to atone for their sins. The Church suffered greatly during the plague, many priests livestock and increase both in industry and especially monks diedagriculture more labor-saving devices employed. The monasteries proved ideal breeding grounds for the plague while many priests contracted the sickness as they gave the last rites to the dying <ref> BenedictowPullan, 20041997, p. 234145 </ref> The impact of the Black Death was contrary on feudalism in Italy. Feudalism was a system whereby peasants and farm laborers bound, as serfs, to serve a local lord. In the north of Italy, good farmland was plentiful, and wages increased, and the last vestiges of feudalism disappeared as serfs increasingly could purchase their freedom.
==Questioning of authority==Religious Consequences====[[File:Petrarch_by_BargillaInitially, in Italy, the plague led to a revival in religion among many.jpg|thumbnail|175px|Petrarch- poet and scholar]]The world middle ages was turned upside down by a time when people believed that events are a result of God’s will. Many viewed the plague as punishment for God for the Black Death. The mental outlook wickedness and immorality of the people changed dramatically. PreviouslyThere was an upsurge in religious observance, and many sections of the public became swept by religious fervor, people assumed as many sincerely believed that the world was fixed and God-ordained. The Black Death overturned old certainties. As we have seen religious orthodoxy and beliefs were undermined by was a sign that the plague and its devastation. People at the time were no longer willing to accept the status quo. This is best seen in the political revolts end of the timeworld was coming. <ref>Benedictow, 2004, p. 174234</ref> The most famous of these, that of poor workers Religious fanaticism spread throughout the peninsula and many men and weavers called popularly the Ciompi, that took place women performed in Florence in 1378. For four yearsextreme religious practices, such as the poor formed flagellants. The flagellants whipped themselves into a frenzy to atone for their sins. The Church suffered greatly during the government of the cityplague, many priests and especially monks died. The revolt was one of several in Italy at monasteries proved ideal breeding grounds for the plague while many priests contracted the time. No longer are people sickness as willing they gave the last rites to question the old ways of doing things and no longer accepted things because they were sanctioned by traditiondying. <ref>Benedictow, 2004, p. 234</ref>
The Black Death led to result was a great questioning shortage of the old certaintiestrained monks and priests. This led manyTo deal with this, especially among the urban elite to use reason Church hastily trained new monks and priests to understand serve the world. They also increasingly turned to spiritual needs of the classics to find answers community, still coming to terms with the problems trauma of lifethe Black Death. The new spirit of inquiry helped This meant that many unsuitable individuals became clerics and this led to ignite the Renaissancea drop in standards among parish priests, especially in politics and philosophy particular.<ref> RuggieroHays, Guido1997, p. ''178 </ref> The Renaissance in Italy: A Social Church became corrupt and Cultural History gradually over time lost the respect of many believers. In the short term the Black Death strengthened the Rinascimento'' (Cambridge University PressCatholic Church in Italy, 2015)but in the long run, p 648</ref>an increasingly corrupt institution meant that many people lost their faith. However, that is not This led to say, that Italy rejected all traditions, it was still a very conservative the increasing secularisation of Italian society in as many ways. However, those who questioned authority and increasingly turned away from the received wisdom, such church in disgust as the Poet worldliness of prelates and Scholar Petrarch inspired priests. The contempt that many felt is evident in the Humanist movementstories of Boccaccio of venal and depraved priests, which valued reason monks and critical thinkingnuns. <ref>Boccaccio, 1987, p 67, 113</ref> The Humanist are essential church had traditionally monopolized education, but after the Black Death, there was more secular education, especially in the cities. This was decisive in the development and progress emergence of the Renaissance, with its emphasis on human values and experiences rather than religion. <ref>BurkhardtBenedictow, 18782004, p. 67134 </ref>
==Decline of the Nobility==Cultural Change====One group that was adversely impacted [[File:Botticelli-primavera.jpg|thumbnail|left|Primevera by Botticelli]]Initially, the Black Death was the nobility. This was also the case in many other European regions and kingdoms. The nobility suffered as greatly as many others classes as led to a result of the plague and fascination with death among many families died out during the period. In the aftermath of the plague, they found themselves in serious financial difficultiesItalians. The loss of population meant that there was no longer a great demand for their land life and rents fellthe suffering led many to become obsessed with death.<ref>PullanHerlihy, 1973D., p''[https://www.amazon. 123 <com/gp/product/0674076133/ref> Many of their labourers simply left the land =as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0674076133&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ed19d965a5f4e3c1389be15f87195a5d The Black Death and they were no replaced. Many of the nobility found themselves obliged to sell their serfs their freedom or to sell land to merchants from the cities. At this time, many wealthy merchants purchased new estates. The demise Transformation of the traditional elite meant that a new elite came to the fore, composed of merchants and self-made men. This new elite often keen to patronize arts. They were very conscious of their lack of birth and humble origins.<ref>PullanWest]'' (Cambridge, 1973Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1997) p. 23 116</ref> They were keen to use The Dance of Death was a popular motif in art and to patronize men architecture at this time. The general mood was one of letters in order to compensatepessimism, and indeed many expected that sooner or later that the world would end. In order to appear Alongside this fear of death and the equal general mood of the old aristocracypessimism, they sought there was a desire to sponsor artists who would win experience the esteem pleasures of the public<ref> Burkhardt, 1878, p. 78</ref>life and to seize any happiness that was on offer. This was one contradictory impact of the reasons for Black Death on the lavish patronage culture of the de Medici’s time can be seen in Florence. They were keen patrons the writings of two of the arts, greatest figures in order to justify their status in society and to impress the general population. This meant that the great artists had many patronsEuropean literature, who often competed for their talents Petrarch and this allowed them to concentrate on their art and to produce some of the greatest art, ever knownBoccaccio.<ref> Hayden B. J. MaginnisBenedictow, 19972004, p. 167 173 </ref>These two writers at times wrote in despair about the human condition yet they also wrote about the joys of life and the beauties of nature.
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====Decline of the Nobility====One group that was adversely impacted by the Black Death was the nobility. This was also the case in many other European regions and kingdoms. The nobility suffered as much as many others classes as a result of the plague and many families died out during the period. In the aftermath of the epidemic, they found themselves in serious financial difficulties. The loss of population meant that there was no longer a high demand for their land and rents fell.<ref>Pullan, 1973, p. 123 </ref> Many of their laborers simply left the land, and they were not replaced. Many of the nobility found themselves obliged to sell their serfs their freedom or to sell land to merchants from the cities. At this time, many wealthy merchants purchased new estates. The demise of the traditional elite meant that a new elite came to the fore, composed of merchants and self-made men. This new elite often keen to patronize arts. They were very conscious of their lack of birth and humble origins.<ref>Pullan, 1973, p. 23 </ref> They were keen to use art and to patronize men of letters to compensate for lack of traditional authority. In order to appear the equal of the old aristocracy, they sought to sponsor artists who would win the esteem of the public.<ref> Burkhardt, 1878, p. 78</ref> This was one of the reasons for the lavish patronage of the de Medici’s in Florence. They were keen patrons of the arts, to justify their status in society and to impress the general population. This meant that the great artists had many patrons, who often competed for their talents and this allowed them to concentrate on their art and to produce some of the greatest art, ever known.<ref>Hayden B. J. Maginnis, 1997, p. 167 </ref> ====Conclusion====The Black Death devastated Italian society in the middle of the 14th century. It led to great socio-economic, cultural and religious changes. After the initial horrors of the plague, Italian society, staged a spectacular recovery. Italy became richer than before. The impact of the plague reduced the influence of the Catholic Church as diminished, and the culture became more secular. The new social mobility meant that individualism came to be respected. The Black Death unleashed the forces in Italian society that made the Renaissance possible.{{MediawikiMediaWiki:AmNative}}====References====<references/>[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:ItalianHistory]][[Category:Medical History]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:Renaissance History]]Updated January 12, 2019{{Contributors}}