The Impact of the Bubonic Plague on Italy

The Bubonic plague, or Black Death, devastated the world in the fourteenth century, resulting in anywhere from 75 to 200 million deaths. In Europe, 30% to 60% of the population died. Here, Richard Marrison considers what happened specifically in Italy/the Italian states during the Black Death and its longer-term impact there.

Boccaccio's 'The plague of Florence in 1348'. Source: Wellcome images, L0072270. Available here.

Boccaccio's 'The plague of Florence in 1348'. Source: Wellcome images, L0072270. Available here.

The Bubonic Plague arrived in Europe around the year 1347, spreading from modern-day Russia. It appeared again later in the century on several occasions.

Within Italy (formed of a number of states/republics in the 14th century), the Black Death made its first landfall in Sicily (1347) and then moved on to other places including Venice and Genoa.

The plague was spread by the fleas that were on the black rat which came on Genoese merchants who were fleeing a Mongol attack. They entered Europe on their ships to save their lives.

The symptoms of this plague included a swelling beneath the armpits and groin area. It was the most deadly plague of that time – and took the life of the infected person within 2 to 3 days. 

Apart from the massive effect on human lives, the plague also had a huge impact on social, economic, religious, and cultural aspects of the places it spread.

The impacts on all these aspects contributed to the emergence of the Renaissance in Italy. 

 

Socio-Economic Impact of the Bubonic Plague 

The socio-economic situation was already bad in Italy before the arrival of the Black Death. A large population rate led to a lack of food, grain, land, and water. The plague hit Italy when the situation was already bad. The people got harmed so much by it as they were having trouble fighting against any diseasesdue to their poor immune systems.

The Black Death took millions of livess and the ratio of death was more higher among poor than rich. However, even the rich struggled to survive or fight against the plague.

The result was a decrease in population. For example the population of Florence went from 120,000 to 50,000 within 13 years, from 1338 to 1351. It also affected the population of most every city including Venice, Parma, and Venice.

Beside the direct impact on the lives of people, the plague also hampered the economy. Trade stagnated, there was also a rise in unemplyment, and many businesses failed. One of the reasons, aside from fewer customers, for businesses to fail was the lack of labor. However, despite the economic downfall, the wages for urban workers and those who worked in the agricultural sector began to increase.

People who managed to survive the Black Death got a chance to work at a higher wage and this led to a change in their living standard.

There was drastic social mobility too. The poor became merchants and the merchants became the nobility.

Besides this, many labour-saving devices were also invented and helped drive economic growth.

 

The cultural impact of the Bubonic Plague 

Culturally speaking, the plague led people to be obsessed with death. It was also shown in a form of dance which was named as the ‘Dance of Death’. Despite people knowing they were going to die, they still longed for happiness and peace.

The cultural impact was written about by the renowned literary figures Boccaccio and Petrarch. Their writings included texts about religion, happiness in life, beauty in nature, and the joys of life. Getting inspired by these figures many involved themselves in fine art, writings, and painting.

Before the plague, Italy was a rigid society where the culture of following the path of family tradition was a must. However, things started moving in a new direction afterwards.

People were increasingly able to choose what they wanted to pursue as their career. Some also started believing that no one should be judged based on how they were born.

Rather, they should be acknowledged for their merits, skills, and knowledge. With this, the system of Individualism started and many artists, writers, architects, and sculpturists emerged.

 

The religious impact of the Bubonic Plague

The Black Death led to a revival in religion as well. People often believed that everything that happened was as per the wish of God, and that the plague was a way to punish people who had been immoral, selfish, wicked, and greedy during their lifetime.

However, the Bubonic plague-infected and killed everyone including priests and monks. Indeed, labor started to lack in the church as well.

People, such as flagellants, then started practicing severe methods to show their devition to God, but this also did not help stop the plague.

So, the government started training more people as monks and priests, resultingd in the degradation of the quality and the standard of the priests and monks. This contributed to more corruption in the Church - and some then stopped respecting the Church.

The plague also led to a change in the education system, which had been largely run by the church before. A new secular education system emerged, mainly in the cities. This transformation played a vital role in the emergence of the Italian Renaissance as importance moved away from religion.

 

Impact of Bubonic Plague on Authority

Alongside less regard for religion, there was the emergence of more political revolts. Revolts were done by both classes of people: rich and poor. However, one of the most famous political revolts was led by poor laborers and became known as the Ciompi Revolt. The revolt started in 1378 and lasted until 1382.

More broadly, people grew more curious and started questioning more, but especially questions related to philosophy and politics.

This certainly contributed to the emergence of the Renaissance. Indeed, many poets and scholars started questioning the authorities which led to the growth of the Renaissance Humanism, which wanted to renew Christianity.

 

Conclusion

The Black Death changed the world in various ways. It took the lives of millions and also left an impact on various important aspects of life.

The plague changed the salaries of many people, living standards, and the progress of ideas. It made many people in Italy and Europe wealthier than before – and it also led to the Renaissance which in turn changed the course of history.

 

What do you think about the impact of the Black Death on Italy? Let us know below.

Posted
AuthorGeorge Levrier-Jones
CategoriesBlog Post
TagsBubonic Plague, Black Death, Black Death Italy, Impact Bubonic Plague, 14th century Italy