Black DeathFlorence - Boccaccio

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Florence

14th Century Florence

• Spoke Italian• 94’000 inhabitants• Important trade and wool manufacturing city• The Gold Florin• Was one of the most important cities of

Europe 14th – 16th century

Giovanni Boccaccio (1317-75)

• Grew up in Florence• Student of Petrarch• Studied law and later

scientific and literary studies

• One of the most famous Italian poets and author

• Wrote many books, including the Decameron.

Decameron

Decameron• Written between 1349 and 1353• A story of seven women and three men who

escape from the plague by fleeing to a villa outside Florence

• Introduction- explains what is happening in Florence

• Consists of a hundred tales made up by the group during their stay in the countryside.

The Black Death• Appearance:

• swellings in the groin or armpits ( gavòcciolo) – Infallible sign of death

• Dark blotches and bruises on arm, thighs • No cures for it and no one was able to do

anything about it• It would spread quickly to whoever still wasn’t

affected• Would affect anyone or any animal

In Florence• Different views on how to survive

– Running away leaving all belonging behind– Abstemious and sober lifestyle– Drinking heavily and enjoying life

• Breakdown of society– No respect for the laws of God and man

• Abandoning who you cared for– Deserting the sick

• Many dropped dead in the streets• When all graves were full, huge trenches were excavated to

burry hundreds of people at a time• Sextons