jessica holttum, jordan standlee, candace haghighi, and cezanne camacho
TRANSCRIPT
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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