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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.
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|left| 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 in Italy. It has been estimated that The plague halved the population of Florence was halved, it . The population crashed and fell from approximately 100,000 to 50,000. This The experience of Florence was not unusual and replicated across all the major cities of Italy which also experienced a similar drastic declinedeclines. The death rate in rural Italy may was not have been nearly as greathigh, but nevertheless, there was a significant loss of life. In general, the total population of Italy may have dropped by as much as a third.<ref>Pullan, 1973, p. 156.</ref> [[File:Danse_macabre_by_Michael_Wolgemut.png|thumbnail|left| Dance of Death image from 15th century woodcut]]The Black Death was also an economic crisis as trade ceased because of fear of the spread of plague. As trade stagnated, businesses failed and unemployment rose. The plague caused a complete social breakdown in many areas and crime and violence became more common. Boccaccio in the Decameron, describes people abandoning their occupations, ignoring the sick and living lives of wild excess, as everyone expected to die. ‘Thus, doing exactly as they prescribed, they spent day and night moving from one tavern to the next, drinking without mode or measure, or doing the same thing in other people's homes, engaging only in those activities that gave them pleasure….. And they combined this bestial behavior with as complete an avoidance of the sick as they could manage.'<ref> Boccaccio, Giovanni. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140449302/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0140449302&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=199bd9b0ec199319d106dc174065bb99 The Decameron].'' (Penguin Classics, Hammondsworth, 1987) trans Mark Musa, p. 6</ref>
====Religious Consequences====Initially, in Italy, the plague led to a revival in religion among many. The result middle ages was a shortage time when people believed that events are a result of trained monks and priestsGod’s will. To deal with this Many viewed the plague as punishment for God for the Church hastily trained new monks wickedness and priests to serve immorality of the spiritual needs people. There was an upsurge in religious observance, and many sections of the communitypublic became swept by religious fervor, still coming to terms with the trauma of as many sincerely believed that the Black Death. This meant was a sign that many unsuitable individuals became clerics and this led to a drop in standards among parish priests, in particularthe end of the world was coming.<ref>HaysBenedictow, 19972004, p. 178 234</ref> The Church became corrupt Religious fanaticism spread throughout the peninsula and gradually over time lost the respect of many believers. In the short term the Black Death strengthened the Catholic Church in Italy but men and women performed in extreme religious practices, such as the long run, an increasingly corrupt institution meant that many people lost flagellants. The flagellants whipped themselves into a frenzy to atone for their faithsins. This led to The Church suffered greatly during the increasing secularisation of Italian society as plague, many increasingly turned away from the church in disgust as the worldliness of prelates and priests. The contempt that many felt is evident in the stories of Boccaccio of venal and depraved priests, especially monks and nunsdied.<ref>Boccaccio, 1987, p 67, 113</ref> The church had traditionally monopolised education but after monasteries proved ideal breeding grounds for the Black Death, there was more secular education, especially in plague while many priests contracted the cities. This was decisive in sickness as they gave the emergence of last rites to the Renaissance, with its emphasis on human values and experiences rather than religiondying.<ref> Benedictow, 2004, p. 134 234</ref>
==Cultural Change==Questioning of authority====[[File:Botticelli-primaveraPetrarch_by_Bargilla.jpg|thumbnail| Primevera by Botticellileft|175px|Petrarch- poet and scholar]]Initially, The world was turned upside down by the Black Death led to a fascination with death among many Italians. The loss mental outlook of life and the suffering led many to become obsessed with deathpeople changed dramatically.<ref> HerlihyPreviously, Dpeople assumed that the world was fixed and God-ordained., ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0674076133/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0674076133&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ed19d965a5f4e3c1389be15f87195a5d The Black Death and overturned old certainties. As we have seen the Transformation of the West]'' (Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1997) p. 116</ref> The Dance of Death was a popular motif in art plague and architecture at this time. The general mood was one of pessimism its devastation undermined religious orthodoxy and indeed many expected that sooner or later that the world would endbeliefs. Alongside this fear of death and People at the general mood of pessimism, there was a desire time were no longer willing to experience accept the pleasures of life and to seize any happiness that was on offerstatus quo. This contradictory impact of change manifested in the Black Death on the culture numerous political revolts of the time can be seen in the writings of two of the greatest figures in European literature, Petrarch and Boccaccio.<ref>Benedictow, 2004, p. 173 174</ref> These two writers at times wrote The most famous of these, led by the poor workers and weavers called popularly the Ciompi, that took place in Florence in despair about 1378. For four years, the human condition yet they also wrote about poor formed the joys government of life and the beauties city. The revolt was one of several in Italy at the time. No longer are people as willing to question the old ways of naturedoing things and no longer accepted things because they were sanctioned by tradition.
==Social Mobility==Cultural Change====The plague disrupted society to an unprecedented state[[File:Botticelli-primavera. It overturned jpg|thumbnail|left|Primevera by Botticelli]]Initially, the existing social structure. Previous, Black Death led to the outbreak of the plague, Italy was a rigid and stratified societyfascination with death among many Italians. The Black Death changed everything. Increasingly, because loss of life and the demographic disaster caused by the plague were able suffering led many to take advantage of the opportunities caused by the high become obsessed with death rate. In the period after the Black Death<ref> Herlihy, an unprecedented amount of social mobility took placeD. Labourers became merchants and merchants become members of the nobility, ''[https://www. No longer was a person’s destiny to be fixed by their birthamazon. Previously, people assumed that one’s station was fixed at one’s birth com/gp/product/0674076133/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0674076133&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ed19d965a5f4e3c1389be15f87195a5d The Black Death and that one had to remain a member the Transformation of the class you were born into.<ref> BenedictowWest]'' (Cambridge, 2004Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1997) p. 73 116</ref> People believed that The Dance of Death was a peasant would always be a peasant, an aristocrat, popular motif in art and aristocratarchitecture at this time. ItaliansThe general mood was one of pessimism, like other peoples, in Europe, believed and indeed many expected that one’s birth determined one’s future and sooner or later that the world would end. Alongside this was determined by God.<ref>Pullan, 1973, p. 123 </ref> However, as social mobility became more widespread because fear of death and the Black Deathgeneral mood of pessimism, many people, came there was a desire to experience the pleasures of life and to believe seize any happiness that a person’s merits or abilities were what mattered and not one’s birth.<ref>Benedictow, 2004, pwas on offer. 174 </ref> This led to a growing individualism contradictory impact of the Black Death on the culture of the time can be seen in Italian society. This, the writings of two of the greatest figures in turnEuropean literature, encouraged people to strive Petrarch and to develop their talents and achieve excellence or virtueBoccaccio.<ref>BurkhardtBenedictow, 18782004, p. 78173 </ref> The belief These two writers at times wrote in despair about the individual was central to human condition yet they also wrote about the Renaissance and it inspired many joys of the greatest artists, architects, sculptures life and writers, the world have ever seen to create peerless worksbeauties of nature.
==Conclusion==Social Mobility====The Black Death devastated Italian plague disrupted society in to an unprecedented state. It overturned the middle of the 14th centuryexisting social structure. It led Previous, to great socio-economic, cultural and religious changes. After the initial horrors outbreak of the plague, Italian Italy was a rigid and stratified society, staged a spectacular recovery. It became richerThe Black Death changed everything. Increasingly, because of the demographic disaster caused by the influence plague were able to take advantage of the Catholic Church was weakened and opportunities caused by the culture became more secularhigh death rate. The In the period after the Black Death, an unprecedented amount of social mobility made possible took place. Laborers became merchants and merchants become members of the nobility. No longer was a person’s destiny to be fixed by their birth. Previously, people assumed that one’s station was fixed at one’s birth and that one had to remain a member of the loss of life meant class you were born into.<ref> Benedictow, 2004, p. 73 </ref> People believed that individualism came to a peasant would always be respecteda peasant, an aristocrat, and aristocrat. The Italians, like other peoples, in Europe, believed that one’s birth determined one’s future and that this was determined by God.<ref>Pullan, 1973, p. 123 </ref> However, as social mobility became more widespread because of the Black Death was , many people, came to believe that a person’s merits or abilities were what mattered and not one’s birth.<ref>Benedictow, 2004, p. 174 </ref> This led to unleash the forces a growing individualism in Italian society that made . This, in turn, encouraged people to strive and to develop their talents and achieve excellence or virtue.<ref>Burkhardt, 1878, p. 78</ref> The belief in the individual was central to the Renaissance possibleand it inspired many of the greatest artists, architects, sculptures and writers, the world have ever seen to create peerless works.<div class="portal" style="'float:right; width:8535%;"'> ====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====
*[[Top 10 Books on the origins of the Italian Renaissance]]
*[[Did the Sack of Rome in 1527 end the Renaissance in Italy?]]
*[[How did the de Medici contribute to the Renaissance?]]
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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:ItalianAmNative}}====References====
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Updated January 12, 2019
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