Faith, Reason, and the Plague in Seventeenth-century TuscanyBy the late fall of 1630, the Black Plague had descended upon northern Italy. The prentice Magistry of Public Health, centered in Florence, took steps to contain and combat the scourge. In this essay, Carlo Cipolla recreates the daily struggle of plague-stricken Monte Lupo, a rustic Tuscan village, revealing in the vivid terms of actual events and personalities a central drama of Western civilization - the conflict between faith and reason, Church and state. |
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11 October 20 July Antonio Bontadi Appendix ARNO RIVER arquebus arrived in Monte ASF Sanità asked August baker Benedetto Sacchetti Cacciacane Capponi castello church Cipolla clergy Commissioner Sacchetti contagion Copialettere Corporal Chiatti countryside Coveri crucifix dead death deputies of Public died disease district Don Antonio ecclesiastical edict Empoli epidemic Father Dragoni Florentine Francesco della Stufa gate Giovanni Dragoni Giuliano gravediggers guards health authorities Health Board health deputies Health Magistracy health officers health pass heard infected inquiry interrogation June jurisdiction letter lordships Macchia Magistracy in Florence Magistracy of Public magistrates Mayor della Stufa Mazzuoli monk Monte Lupans Monte Lupo Negozi neighbouring night October ordinances Pandolfo Partiti person pesthouse Pistoia poor priest of Monte procession Public Health quarantine recognized religious removed Rescritti San Miniatello scudi sent sick stockade Sunday surgeon suspected tion took Tuscany Venice treacle Vicar village window wrote