The Dangers Of The Bubonic Plague By Giovanni Boccaccio

Like other diseases, the Bubonic Plague carried with it many speculations. Common belief was that the plague was placed upon people to be a form of retribution for their sins. These beliefs went further into the lifestyle of individuals, creating a new way of living in hopes of preventing the plague. As well as new ways of living new medicinal practices came into play. Doctors of the 14th century were placed under stress and “were helpless and hopeless in the face of the plague.” Parents would refuse to take responsibility for their sick infants. Times were rough within the 14th century with the devastation of the plague, “Not to mention the famine which, in the second decade of the century, strewed the roads with the dead, and caused imprisoned
Once this has been done, changes are made and could be seen through instructions about dietary restrictions as well as restrictions pertaining to everyday life. Giovanni Boccaccio, author of The Decameron, speaks of several different restrictions within his writings. As With the bubonic plague “doctors were concerned that one did not over-eat or consume foods that were hard to digest in order that the body not be weakened by the fumes or humours rising from the stomach.” Gentile de Foligno describes ‘excellent food and drink’. Meats that were considered ‘young’ (i.e. pork, veal, chicken, and grey partridge) were seen as the perfect choice. People were often leery of bread, and extra caution had to be taken while preparing it. As well as the foods that were on the approved list, several things were also not approved. Fish, vegetables, raw herbs, cooked fruit, and cheese. Lifestyle changes were taken into account as well, not just those pertaining to food. White wines could be drank, but they should be diluted with water to decrease their
Religion played a powerful role in prevalent beliefs surrounding the bubonic plague. Like the prescriptions detailed by Boccaccio, the religious prescriptions that were issued could be as extremes as well. The 14th century “was a time wracked with religious fanaticism, ignorance and superstition.” The churches corruption could have been blamed for the plague, it was thought that God was punishing the European people for all of their sins. The period which the plague reigned over was also thwarted by war. One common belief was that it was because of those from different religions that Christian Europe was suffering. The Jewish peoples were first to be blamed, “[The plague] is still being spread, by the poisoning of springs and wells, and that the Jews must have dropped poisonous substances into