Topic
The Plague in Rural Areas of Northern Italy
The project examines the epidemiological course and the social dynamics of plague epidemics in rural northern Italy. In doing so, it explores questions of mobility, identity construction and the definition of spatial boundaries.
Mobility, Identity and Social Boundaries in the 17th Century
Research on plague outbreaks in the Italian peninsula tends to focus on larger cities such as Venice, Florence or Milan. However, when it comes to the long-term consequences of an epidemic, the situation in rural areas seems to have been a particularly significant factor. The plague waves of the 17th century are considered to have had a lasting negative impact on the demographic and economic development of northern Italy, especially due to the unusual extent to which rural areas were affected. In my dissertation, I take a closer look at this factor of territorial pervasiveness and investigate why plague was able to spread so extensively. As part of this reconstruction of the epidemic, I also plan to analyse the social dynamics of epidemics in rural society. While there is extensive research on how disease control measures regulated mobility and organised spaces in urban contexts, there is a lack of corresponding studies for rural areas. A particular focus will be placed on the significance of identity and otherness in the social strategies employed by rural communities to fight the plague. For example, what impact did health passes and quarantine regulations have in rural regions? And to what extent were some groups more likely to be controlled, surveilled and excluded?
The project is funded by the ERC Synergy Grant »A Novel Understanding of Pandemic Disease in Preindustrial Europe (1300-1800): Combining History, Machine Learning and Natural Sciences (EUROpest)«.
